| OCR Text |
Show 1875.] BIRDS FROM QUEENSLAND. 593 about equal in length, middle toe about one third longer ; hind shortest and broadest at base; claws of all weak, curved, and compressed laterally. The plumage resembles that of the Catbird AHluroedus, being loose and comparatively long. 113. MIMETA AFFINIS. 114. MIMETA VIRIDIS. 115. MIMETA FLAVOCINCTA. The first of these species is the most common ; the two others I did not find to be plentiful. 116. SPHECOTHERES MAXILLARIS. Plentiful everywhere on the margins of the scrubs. 117. SPHECOTHERES FLAVIVENTRIS.1 I noticed several in a collection of birds made in the district, but did not perceive any specimens myself at Cardwell. 118. CORCORAX MELANORHAMPHUS. Met with once or twice inland in open forest country. 119. CORVUS AUSTRALIS. Common about the slaughtering-yards throughout the district. 120. CALORNIS METALLICA. One of the most common birds in the scrubs of the Herbert river. They breed in companies, seemingly all through the year, making large bulky nests of grass and fine twigs with a side opening, which hang from the ends of the leafy boughs in clusters or singly; at times the branches break off with the weight of the nests and their contents. On the Herbert I noticed they gave preference to a small-leaved species of fig resembling Ficus syringifolia; and before a colony began to build, the twigs on many of the branches were broken and began to wither, and, hanging down, at a distance resembled in colour the brown nests of this species. I noticed this on two occasions, and remarked to Inspector Johnstone that the birds were building near his camp. However, when examining the tree through our field-glasses, we found nothing but bunches of dry leaves swinging about with the wind. A few days afterwards we noticed a neighbouring fig-tree in a similar condition ; and as both trees were resorted to by these birds, I was under the impression that it was caused by the ravages of some insect which the birds came to feed on ; however, about a month afterwards, Mr. Johnstone informed me that these trees had been taken possession of by colonies of Weaverbirds (or " Starlings," as they are called in those parts) ; and this bulk of brown nests was forming quite a new feature in the landscape. The surface of the ground under a tree which has been colonized for some time is perfectly green with thousands of seedling plants, 38* |
