JUN 3 1943 
 
NESTS AND EGGS 
 
 OF 
 
 AUSTEALIAN BIEDS. 
 
 EMBRACING PAPERS ON 
 
 “OOLOGY OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS,” 
 
 READ BEFORE THE FIELD NATURALISTS^ CLUB OF VICTORIA, 
 
 SUPPLEMENTED BY OTHKR 
 
 NOTES & MEMORANDA; 
 
 AN APPENDIX OF SEVERAL OUTS — NESTING, 
 SHOOTING, &c. 
 
 BY 
 
 ARCHD. J. CAMPBELL. 
 

 C\5vi 
 
 f 0 
 
 HIS EXCELLENCY 
 
 The Most Honorable 
 
 file larquis of Soinianbij, Ll.l.l., 
 
 THIS WORK IS DEDICATED, 
 
 / 
 
 BY SPECIAL PEEJIIS8ION, 
 
 IN MEMORY O'F HIS TERM OF OFFICE 
 AS 
 
 GOVERNOR OF VICTORIA, 
 
 £y ms MOST OBEDIENT HUMBLE SERVANT, 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 
 M^'CCC ■^UTl- 
 
 5 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Oology (derived from the Greek words oon, meaning 
 an egg, and logos, the science or study) is a branch of 
 Natural Science that is rapidly developing. Now more 
 importance is centred in it by ornithologists than formerly. 
 The late Mr. John Gould, that eminent naturalist, who, 
 with indomitable perseverance, ever possessed a single 
 eye to the advancement of the science he so much 
 loved, says: — can assure them (the rising ornitho- 
 ^Gogists of Australia) that the study of the eggs will 
 greatly assist them in assigning the birds to which 
 ^Ghey belong to their proper genus. One of our 
 greatest living botanists, Baron von Mueller, directs his 
 collectors of botanical specimens always to take the fruit 
 where possible, because, he adds, remembering the instruc- 
 tion of a good old Book, ^^ye shall know them by their 
 fruits. Likewise, in many instances, the birds may be 
 proved by their fruits. 
 
 There are many authors of eggs of British and European 
 birds. One oologist alone has a collection of 1,500 species 
 of eggs. Then there is Mr. Allan Hume, of India, who has 
 spent a lifetime and a fortune in the Nests and Eggs of the 
 birds of his Empire, and benefited the world by publishing 
 his interesting and instructive researches; while in America 
 almost every other scientist is an oologist, and some so 
 methodical that authenticated eggs must be accompanied 
 with the collector's printed and duly signed certificate, 
 particularising locality where taken, number of eggs in 
 set, material of constructian^ and dimensions, both inside 
 and out, of the nest, and species of bush or tree from which 
 it was taken, &c. There is also a periodical published in 
 Boston (U. S.), entitled The Ornithologist and Oologist, 
 furnishing all the information of the day in these specific 
 lines. 
 
 This pamphlet is the outcome of papers on Oology of 
 Australian Birds that have been appearing from time to 
 time in the Southern Science Record, and all the specimens 
 specially noted therein were, exhibited and fully described 
 before the Field Naturalists^ Club of Victoria. Descriptions 
 
IV 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 and dimensions are given of about 413^ or nearly all the 
 known Australian eggs^ 262 being taken from Mr. Gould^s 
 celebrated work on the Birds of Australia. I have found 
 that information so concise that in almost every instance I 
 have adopted it verbatim. The balance^ 151^ were unknown 
 to him or his collectors ; of these^ 122 are described from 
 authenticated specimens in my own collection, 24 from Mr. 
 E. P. Ramsay^s papers^ and 5 from other authors. 
 
 Without wishing to clash in any manner with the excel- 
 lent ^^Contributions to Australian Oology by my talented 
 friend Mr. Ramsay^ before the Linnean Society of New 
 South Wales, I beg to state my first paper was published 
 in September 1881, and was in the printers hands some 
 six months before Mr. Ramsay read his first, which was in 
 January 1882, and in which he did me the great honor of 
 describing some rare eggs from my collection. 
 
 The numbers and scientific names refer to those in 
 Gould^s Handbook to Birds of Australia,^^ with which, in 
 nearly every case, the British Museum’s ''Hand-list to Birds” 
 agrees. Where discrepancies occur, I have denoted the 
 British Museum^s name in italics. 
 
 The localities mentioned are in accordance with Mr. 
 Ramsay^s Tabular List (which I highly commend as a most 
 valuable guide to ornithologists and oologists), with a few 
 alterations and extensions that have come under my own 
 observation. I have also shown where the habitat of any 
 Australian species is known to extend to New Guinea. 
 We are informed by the best authorities that, botanically 
 and zoologically speaking, that country cannot be sepa- 
 rated from Australia. New Guinea naturally belongs to 
 Australia as much as Tasmania ; both are the land of the 
 Eucalypts and the Kangaroo, a fact not without interest, 
 from a naturalist^s point of view, in these days when so 
 much is heard about Federation and Annexation. 
 
 The rotation of some of the genera are a little altered 
 to what appeared in the Southern Science Record. I have 
 endeavored, perhaps but feebly, to simplify the classification, 
 as far as the families are concerned, from an oologist stand- 
 point. We are sadly in want of a complete classification 
 of the Birds of Australia : that of the British Museum is 
 very conflicting, if not inaccurate. 
 
 A very extensive and interesting field lies before future 
 Australian oologists; I mention future, because it will never 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 V 
 
 all be worked out in our day^ for about 300 species of eggs 
 remain totally undetermined and yet to be described; 
 therefore I would urge upon those persons favorably situ- 
 ated to make careful observations in their respective dis- 
 tricts, and inform us, not only of the number and character 
 of the eggs of the various birds, but the length of incu- 
 bation and the share each parent bird takes in the task ; 
 also, with regard to birds^ architectural instincts, what por- 
 tion of the nest the male or female contributes to build, 
 or whether both labor from foundation to finish. I should 
 also recommend notes to be made on the spot where 
 practicable — it does not matter how rough. Such data, be 
 it rough or old, will always be invaluable should it fall 
 into the hands of oologists working up notes. 
 
 However, be it understood, I strongly denounce the 
 destruction of our indigenous birds, their nests or eggs, 
 except to prove some portion of their economy for scientific 
 knowledge. The wanton and ruthless manner in which 
 many of our useful and beautiful birds are shot or hunted 
 (and I am sorry so very often under the cognisance of the 
 police) is shameful. Take, for instance, that noble bird the 
 Emu : it is only a matter of a very few years before it will 
 be extinct as far as this side of the River Murray is con- 
 cerned. Then the remarkable Lyre-bird: shortly it will 
 only be found in the fastnesses of the Gippsland mountains 
 except our Legislature intervene. I throw out the hint, in 
 passing, that our Field Naturalists^ Club, in conjunction 
 with the Zoological Society, might infiuence the Govern- 
 ment to have the Game Act more stringently carried out, 
 and likewise amend it by adding thereto many of our gay- 
 plumaged birds : such an amendment is absolutely necessary 
 because, in these days of fashion, the fairer sex discard the 
 artificial for the real plumage of many of our feathered 
 friends. There is an amusing parody, which is neverthe- 
 less true : it commences something like this : — 
 
 “ Who killed cock-robin ? 
 
 Not I, said the sparrow, with my bow and arrow, — 
 ******* 
 
 It was that dark-eyed damsel, — I see him in her hat.” 
 
 I heard of a court dress in Europe being trimmed with 
 150 breasts of the Queensland Rifle-bird. It is needless 
 to say that such trafl&c as that requires a wholesome check. 
 
 As the oological portion of this issue may be somewhat 
 technical to my young friends, to engender a love for our 
 
VI 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 numerous natural objects that can only be perfectly realized 
 in the field, I have added, by way of an appendix, several 
 of my camp -outings however, an apology is due from 
 me on behalf of the language embodied, which is not so 
 depicting or descriptive as required in contemplating such 
 elevating subjects : nevertheless I trust that by common 
 phraseology I may make myself understood, and shall be 
 amply rewarded should I arouse a taste in some of my 
 Australian-born brethren for the study of Nature^s won- 
 derful and beautiful subjects. A love for any such study 
 is one of the greatest attributes of the human mind. 
 
 In conclusion, I desire to thank all my friends (too 
 numerous to be individually mentioned here) who in the 
 past have afforded me information and lent valuable assist- 
 ance by donations or exchanges of eggs, and trust, in the 
 future, I may still merit their connections. 
 
OOLOGY OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 OBBEB J.—ACCIPETRES.— Birds of Prey. 
 
 This Order incubates or hatches generally in the months of 
 September, October, and November. In Northern Australia the 
 time depends on the season or rains, and is sometimes as early as 
 May and June. 
 
 Family — Ealconid^ — H awks. 
 
 Open nests, constru'cted of dried sticks and twigs and placed in 
 forked boughs of trees, except the Harriers, which breed 
 on the ground, and one of the Falcons and the Kestril 
 in crevices of cliffs and hollow spouts of trees. Clutch 
 of eggs from two to four. 
 
 1. Aquila {TTroaetus) audax — (Wedge-tailed Eagle). Lo- 
 cality — Australia and Tasmania. Fgg — Clouded with large 
 blotches of pale purple, and small specks and dashes of yellow- 
 ish umber-brown on a stone-colored ground. Length, 3 inches ; 
 breadth 2 inches. I have had specimens as small as 2f inches 
 by 2i. 
 
 2. Hier^ttjs MORPHisriODES — (Little Eagle). Locality — 
 Australia except North, and Victoria. Fgg — Bluish white, 
 with very faint traces of brown blotchings. Length, 2 inches 
 2i lines ; breadth, 1 inch 9^ lines. 
 
 3. PoLiOAETTJs {Cuncuma) leucogastee — (White-bellied 
 Sea-eagle). Locality — x\ustralia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. 
 Fgg — Dull white, faintly stained with reddish brown. Length, 
 2 inches 9 lines ; breadth, 2 inches 3 lines. 
 
 4. Haliastue LEUCOSTEExrs — (White-breasted Sea-eagle). 
 Locality — North Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, and 
 New Guinea. Fgg — Dirty white, having the surface spread over 
 with numerous hair-like streaks and very minute dots of reddish- 
 brown, the former prevailing and assuming the form of hiero- 
 glyphics, these singular markings being most numerous at one 
 end, sometimes at the larger, other times at the smaller. Length, 
 2 inches 2 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 8 lines. 
 
 5. Haliastue sphenueus — (Whistling Eagle). Locality — 
 Australia and New Guinea. Fgg — Bluish white, slightly tinged 
 
 Eggs marked with an asterisk (thus not described in Gould’s work 
 but described from the author’s own collection. Those marked with a 
 double asterisk (# =^) not previously described. 
 
2 
 
 OOLOaY OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 with green, the few brown markings with which they are varied 
 being very obscure, and appearing as if beneath the surface of 
 the shell. Length, 2 inches 3 lines ; breadth, I inch 9 lines. 
 
 6. Pais^dtois^ leucocephaltjs — (W hite-headed Osprey). Lo- 
 cality — Australia, and Tasmania, and New Guinea. Lyy — 
 Yellowish white, boldly spotted and blotched with deep reddish 
 brown, which color in some specimens is so dark as to be 
 nearly black ; again, other specimens are clouded with large 
 blotches of purple, which appear as if beneath the surface of 
 the shell. Medium length, 2 inches 5 lines; breadth, 1 inch 9 
 lines. 
 
 7. Palco {Hierofalco) htpoleucus — (G rey Palcon). Lo- 
 cality — Queensland, Victoria, Interior and West Australia. 
 L^gg — Oblong oval, the whole of the ground color obscured by 
 minute dots and freckles of rusty-red : these markings are 
 sometimes in the form of an indistinct band on the larger 
 end. Shell smooth, slightly glossy. Length, 2 inches ; breadth, 
 1 ^ inches. (Eamsay). 
 
 8. Falco MELANOGEis’TS — (Black-cheeked Falcon). Locality 
 — Australia and Tasmania. Egg — Ground color buff ; but this 
 is scarcely perceptible from the predominance of the blotches of 
 deep reddish chestnut with which it is marbled all over. Length, 
 2 inches 2 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 7i lines. 
 
 This Falcon breeds in the crevices of cliffs without con^ 
 structing a nest. Instances have been known of their depositing 
 their eggs under cover of a tussock of grass, on a plain, after 
 the manner of Swamp-hawks or Harriers. 
 
 10. Falco {Hypotriorchis) lunulatus — (White-fronted 
 Falcon). Locality — Australia and Tasmania, Egg — Light buff, 
 blotched and marbled all over with dark buff. Length, 1 inch 
 9i lines ; breadth, 1 inch lines. 
 
 11. Ieracidla berioora — (B rown Hawk). Locality — Aus- 
 tralia and Tasmania. Egg — Very beautiful, varying in color, 
 and are seldom found alike; they are also longer, or of a more 
 oval shape than those of the generality of Falcons ; the pre- 
 vailing color is the ground buff white, covered nearly all over 
 with reddish brown. In some specimens an entire wash of this 
 color extends over nearly half the egg, while others are blotched 
 or freckled with it, in small patches, over the surface generally. 
 Medium length, 2 inches 1^ lines ; breadth, 1 inch 6^ lines. 
 
 12. Ieracidea occidentalis — (W estern Brown Hawk), 
 Locality — South and West Australia, and Victoria, Egg — 
 Varies in intensity of color, but differs in little or nothing from 
 that of J. herigora. 
 
 13. Tinnunculus cenchroides — (N ankeen Kestrel). Lo- 
 cality — Australia. Egg — Freckled all over with blotches and 
 minute dots of rich reddish chestnut on a paler ground. Length, 
 li inches ; breadth, inches. 
 
BIRDS OF PREY. 
 
 3 
 
 Hitherto the Kestrel was only considered an occasional visitor 
 to Tasmania; but I think now we may fully establish its exten- 
 sion of habitat to that island, since many birds have been ob- 
 served. I saw two skins in the Hobart Museum — one shot at 
 Sorrell and the other at Clarence Plains. Kestrels also breed 
 in Tasmania. I possessed a set of eggs taken there, and have 
 seen others. In reference to the site for breeding, an old de- 
 serted magpie’s or crow’s nest is generally selected for the pur- 
 pose, instead of spouts of trees or some cliff crevice as on our 
 Continent. 
 
 14. Leucopiza. rait — (New Holland Groshawk). Locality — 
 Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. 
 ** Egg — Of a bluish or greenish white tinge, with a few large 
 blotches and small, of reddish brown, at intervals over the shell. 
 These markings are easily removed by moisture. Length 2 
 inches ; breadth inches. 
 
 This egg is described from one of a nest of two taken near 
 G-eelong in 1880. 
 
 17. {Urospiza) approximais’S — (Australian G-oshawk). 
 
 Locality — Australia, except North, and Tasmania. Egg — Bluish 
 white, in some instances sparingly smeared over with blotches 
 of brownish buff. Length 1 inch 10 lines ; breadth, 1 inch Sa- 
 lines. 
 
 19. AccrPiTER {TJrospiza) torquatus {cirrhoceplialus) — 
 (Collared Sparrow-Hawk). Locality — Australia and Tasmania. 
 Egg — -Bluish white, in some instances stained and smeared over 
 with buff ; in others square-formed spots, and a few hair-like 
 streaks of deep brown. Medium length 1 inch 6 lines ; breadth 
 1 inch 3 lines. 
 
 Being the smallest Hawk’s egg, this is not without interest. 
 It has been fully described by Mr. Gould, and on two consec- 
 utive occasions by Mr. Eamsay before the Linnean Society of 
 New South Wales. 
 
 20. Gtpoictixia melaxosternox — (Black-breasted Buz- 
 zard). Locality — New South Wales, Victoria, South and West 
 Australia. ^Egg — (1) Ground color white, wdth a few indistinct 
 large brown blotches on centre of egg, covered all over with dark 
 violet hieroglyphics. (2) Ground color white, blotched all round 
 centre and larger end with dark brown inclining to violet, inter- 
 mingling with a few' indistinct lilac blotches as if beneath sur- 
 face of shell; also towards smaller a few' small brownish spots. 
 Length inches ; breath If to If inches. 
 
 These descriptions are from a pair of eggs taken by Mr. H. 
 H. Peck, in the Eiverina district, on the 17th September. 
 
 21. Mil YUS afeixis — (Allied Kite). Locality — Australia. 
 ^Egg — Differs in twm ways from those of the general run of 
 Ealconidcd, First, it is not so round ; second, the texture of the 
 shell is finer, although in places a little lumpy on the surface, 
 
 B 
 
4 
 
 OOLOaY OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 which is also somewhat glossy. The ground color is of a warm 
 fleshy white, moderately marked and blotched all over, but 
 particularly at the larger end^ with reddish or chestnut brown ; a 
 few bluish-grey blotches appear as if under the shell’s surface. 
 Length, 2 inches 3 lines; breadth, 1 inch 7 lines. 
 
 Mr. Kamsay has described eggs as those of the Allied Kite, 
 but 1 cannot reconcile his description with mine. His dimen- 
 sions barely exceed those of his Black-shouldered Kite’s, whereas 
 the Allied Kite is a bird nearly twice the size of the Black-shoul- 
 dered Kite. 
 
 22. Milvus (Lophoictinia) isijkus — (S quare-tailed Kite). 
 Locality — Australia, except NTorth. Egg — Ground color soft 
 buffy white, faintly freckled with rufus, becoming much deeper 
 at the smaller end, others very largely blotched with reddish 
 brown ; somewhat round in form. Length, 2 inches ; breadth, 1 
 inch 7 lines. 
 
 23. Elaj^us axili>aeis — (B lack-shouldered Kite). Locality 
 — Australia. Egg — Ground color, where visible, is of a dull 
 white, but it is mostly obscured by blotches and smears of dark 
 reddish chocolate. Length, I inch 8 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 3 lines. 
 (Kamsay.) 
 
 24. Elanus SCKTPTU& — (Letter- winged Kite). Locality — 
 Australia, except Korth. Egg — White ground, blotched and 
 marked with reddish brown, darkest at smaller end ; markings 
 easily removed by wetting. Length, If inches ; breadth, If 
 inches. 
 
 25. Baza subcristata — (Crested Hawk). Locality — 
 Queensland and New South Wales. Egg — ^Pure w hite. Length, 
 1 inch 9 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 5 lines. 
 
 26. CiECUs {Spilocircus) assimilis {Jardinii') — (Allied 
 Harrier). Locality — Australia, except North, and Tasmania. 
 Egg — Pure white. Length, 2 inches ; breadth. If inches. 
 
 27. CiKCUS JARuns^ii {assimilis} — (Jardine’s Harrier). Lo- 
 cality — Queensland, New^ South Wales, Victoria, and South 
 Australia. Egg — Same description as 0. assimilis. 
 
 Ea mily — S T ei gi . — Owls. 
 
 Breed in holes of large gum-trees. Clutch of eggs, two to four. 
 
 34. Hieeacoglaux cojvj^itens — (Winking Owl). Locality 
 — Australia. Egg — Pure white, somewhat round in form and 
 large for size of the bird. Length, 2 inches ; breadth. If inches. 
 
 36. Spiloglaux boobook — (Boobook Owl). Locality — 
 Australia and Tasmania. Egg — Perfectly white, unusually 
 round. Length, 1 inch 7 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 4 lines. 
 
PERCHING BIRDS. 
 
 5 
 
 OEJDEE 7J.— PASSERES.— PERCHiNa Birds. 
 
 Incubating months from end of July to beginning of January? 
 but principally September, October, and NTovember. In Northern 
 Australia it may be earlier or later accor^ng to the rainy 
 season. 
 
 Family — CAPRiMULOiDiE. — Groatsuckers. 
 
 Nightjars breed on the bare ground, except genus ^gotheles, 
 which resort to hollow branches or spouts of gum-trees. 
 Clutch one or two eggs. Podargi construct flat nests of 
 small sticks on horizontal branches of trees. Clutch, two 
 eggs. 
 
 38. tEgotheles noy^-hollandi^ — (O wlet Nightjar). Lo- 
 calitp — Australia, except North, and Tasmania. Egg — Per- 
 fectly white, roundish in form. Length, about I inch 2 lines; 
 breadth, II lines. 
 
 40. PoDARGUS STRIGOIDES — (Tawny-shouldered Podargus). 
 Locality — Queensland, New South Whales, and Victoria. Eqg — 
 Beautiful immaculate white, and of a long oval form. Length 
 1 inch 10 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 3 lines. 
 
 41. Podargus cuyiert — (C uvier’s Podargus). Locality-- 
 Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. Egg — White, and 
 nearly a true oval in form. Length, 1 inch 9 lines ; breadth, 1 
 inch 3 lines. 
 
 49. Eurostopodus guttatus — (S potted Nightjar). Locality 
 — Australia. Egg — Of a uniform light olive stone-color, with 
 here and there a roundish purple blotch or spot. Length 1 
 inch 5| lines ; breadth, 1 inch li lines. 
 
 50. Caprimulgus macrourus — (L ong-tailed Nightjar). Lo- 
 cality — North Australia and New Gruinea. Egg — Cif a light 
 creamy color, with obscure dull slate-grey spots, and a zone of 
 similar spots round the larger end ; other specimens have no 
 zone, but the spots more evenly dispersed over the surface. 
 Length, 1 inch If lines ; breadth, lOf lines. (Ramsay.) 
 
 Family — Hirundustid^ — S wallows. 
 
 Nests constructed of mud, lined with feathers, and placed under 
 Yerandahs, bridges, or on face of cliffs. Some species nest 
 on the bare wood in holes of trees or bank-sides. Clutch, 
 three or four eggs. 
 
 53. Hirundo {Hyparolepsis) froxtalis — (W elcome Swal- 
 low). Locality — Australia and Tasmania. Egg — Grround 
 color, pinky white, with numerous fine spots of purplish brown, 
 the interspaces with specks of light greyish brown, assuming, 
 in some instances, the form of a zone at the larger end. Length 
 8 or 9 lines ; breadth 6 lines. 
 
6 
 
 OOLOaY OF AUSTEALIAN BIEDS. 
 
 55. Hylochelidois^ i^ifeicais^s — (T ree Swallow). Locality — 
 Australia, Tasmania, and New Gruinea. Egg — Finky white, 
 sometimes faintly freckled at the larger end with fine spots of 
 light reddish brown. Length, Si lines ; breadth, 6 lines. 
 
 5fi. Lagenoplastes aeiel — (Fairy Martin). Locality — 
 Australia, except West. Egg — Sometimes white, others spotted 
 and blotched with red. Length, 8^ lines ; breadth, 5f lines. 
 
 57. Cheeam(eca leucosterna — (White-breasted Swallow). 
 Locality — Australia, except North. Egg — White, somewhat 
 lengthened and pointed in form. 
 
 Family — Meeopida:. — B ee-Eaters, 
 
 Clutch, four eggs, deposited in holes drilled in river-banks or 
 sand-hills. 
 
 58. Merops OEiSTATUs — (Australian Bee-eater). Locality — 
 Australia and New Guinea Egg — Bound, pinky white. Length, 
 lOf lines ; breadth, 9i lines. 
 
 Family — C oeacid^ . — Boilers. 
 
 Clutch, four eggs, placed in holes of trees. 
 
 59. Euetstomus pacificus — (Australian Boiler). Locality 
 — Australia, except South and West, and New Guinea. Egg — 
 Pearly white, considerably pointed at the smaller end. Length, 
 1 inch 5 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 2 lines. 
 
 Family — ALCEDiis^iDiE — Kingfishers. 
 
 Clutch of four sometimes five eggs, deposited in hollow trees or 
 holes drilled in banks. 
 
 60. Dacelo gigas — (Great Brown Kingfisher). Locality — 
 Australia, except North and West. Egg — Pearly white. Length, 
 1 inch 9| lines ; breadth, 1 inch 5 lines. 
 
 61. Dacelo leachii — (Leach’s Kingfisher). Locality — 
 
 Queensland and New Guinea. * — Smooth, glossy, and 
 
 pearly white. Length, 1 inch 10| lines ; breadth, 1 inch 5^ lines. 
 
 63. Todiehamphus {Sauropatis) sanctus — (Sacred King- 
 fisher), Locality — Australia and New Guinea. Egg — Pinky 
 white. Length, lines ; breadth, 9i lines. 
 
 64. Todiehamphus {Sauropatis) pyeehopygitjs — (Bed-backed 
 Kingfisher). Locality — Australia. Egg — Pinky- white. Length, 
 1 inch ; breadth, lOi lines. 
 
 66. Cyanalcyon macleayi — (MacLeay’s Kingfisher). Lo- 
 cality — Queensland, New South Wales, and New Guinea Egg 
 — Pearly white, and nearly round in form. Length, 1 inch ; 
 breadth, lOf lines. 
 
PERCIITNG BIRDS. 
 
 1 
 
 69. Alcyone azukea (Azure Kingfisher). Locality — Aus- 
 tralia, except North and West. Eyy — Pearly white, rather 
 round in form. Length, lOi lines ; breadth, 9 lines. 
 
 Family — Artamidte. — W ood Swallows. 
 
 Nests constructed of fine twigs and grass, dined with fibrous 
 roots, and placed in any convenient bush, fork of tree, or 
 spout of bark. Clutch, two or three eggs. 
 
 73. Artamus sordidiis — (Wood Swallow^). Locality — Aus- 
 tralia, except North, and Tasmania. Egg — Differs much in 
 the disposition of markings ; ground color is dull white, spotted 
 and dashed with umber brown : in some a second series of 
 greyish spots appear as if beneath the surface of the shell. 
 Length, 11 lines ; breadth, 8 lines. 
 
 74. Artamus minor — (Little Wood Swallow). Locality — 
 Queensland and New South W ales. ^Fgg — Of a light yellowish 
 white tinge, marked and spotted with umber-brown and purplish 
 grey, the latter color appearing as if under the surface of the 
 shell : the majority of the markings are in the form of a belt 
 about the upper quarter of the egg. Length, 84 lines ; breadth, 
 64 lines. 
 
 75. Artamus cinereus. — (Grrey-breasted Wood Swallow). 
 Locality — North and West Australia. Fgg — Subject to con- 
 siderable variation in color and in character of markings ; 
 usually bluish white, spotted and blotched with lively reddish 
 brown, intermingled with obscure spots and dashes of purplish 
 grey, all the markings being most numerous towards the larger 
 end. Length, 11 lines ; breadth, 8 lines. 
 
 78. Artamus personates — (Masked Wood Swallow). Lo- 
 cality — Australia, except North. Egg — Differs remarkably ; 
 ground color being light greenish grey, dashed and speckled 
 with hair-brown, principally at the larger end, and slightly 
 spotted with grey, appearing as if beneath the surface of the 
 shell. Length, 104 lines, breadth, 84 lines. 
 
 79. Artamus superciliosus — (White eye-browed Wood 
 Swallow). Locality — Australia, except North and West. Fgg 
 — Grround color dull buffy-white, spotted with umber brown, 
 forming a zone near the larger end ; in some, these spots are 
 sparingly sprinkled over the whole surface ; others have the 
 obscure grey spotting like those of A. sordidus. Length, 11 
 lines ; breadth, 84 lines. 
 
 80. Artamus leucopygialis — (White-rumped Wood Swal- 
 low). Locality — Australia, except West, and New Guinea. 
 Fgg — Much lighter in color and more minutely spotted than 
 those of any other species of the genus ; ground color fleshy 
 white, finely freckled and spotted with faint markings of redish 
 and grey, in brown some instances forming a zone at the larger 
 end. Length, 10 lines ; breadth, 74 lines. 
 
8 
 
 OOLOGY OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 Family — Ampeltd^. — D iamond-Birds. 
 
 Dome-shaped nests of grass and line chips of bark placed in 
 excavations at the termination of holes drilled in the 
 ground. In some species they are placed in hollow limbs 
 of trees. Clutch, four eggs. 
 
 81. Pardalotus punctatus — (S potted Diamond-Bird). Lo- 
 cality — Australia, except North, and Tasmania. Fgg — Eather 
 round in form, of a beautiful polished fleshy white. Length, 
 
 lines ; breadth, lines. 
 
 82. Pardalotus rubricatus — (Eed-lored Diamond-Bird). 
 
 Queensland and New South Wales. Fgg — Pearly 
 white, rather pyriform, and more pointed than those of any other 
 species. Length, lines ; breadth, 7 lines. (Eamsay.) 
 
 83. Pardalotus quadragiotus — (F orty-spotted Diamond- 
 Bird). Locality — Tasmania. Fgg — White, round in form. 
 Length, 7i lines ; breadth, 6 lines. 
 
 81. Pardalotus striatus — (S triated Diamond-Bird). Lo- 
 cality — ^Australia, except North. Egg — Fleshy-white. Length, 
 9 lines ; breadth, 7 lines. 
 
 85. Pardalotus AFFiYis — (Allied Diamond-Bird). Locality 
 — New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. 
 Egg — Beautiful white. Length, 9 lines ; breadth, 7 lines. 
 
 86. Pardalotus melanocephalus — (B lack-headed Diamond- 
 Bird). Locality — Queensland and New South Wales. ^^Egg — 
 Pearly white. Length, 8J lines ; breadth, 6^ lines. 
 
 87. Pardalotus uropygialis — ( Yellow- rumped Diamond- 
 Bird). Locality — North Australia. Fgg — Same P. ruhri- 
 catus. Length, 8^ lines ; breadth, lines. (Eamsay.) 
 
 Family — Layiid^. — Crow-Shrikes. 
 
 Open nests constructed of sticks and other course material, 
 lined with grass or bark and placed in forked branches 
 of trees. Clutch, three or four eggs. 
 
 88. Strepera graculiya — (P ied Crow-Shrike). Locality — 
 
 Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. Fgg — Eather 
 
 oval in form ; ground color light chocolate, which is blended or 
 clouded all over with mottle of a darker color. Length, 1 inch 
 6 or 7 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 1 line. 
 
 89. Strepera fuliginosa — (S ooty Crow-Shrike). Locality 
 — Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. Egg — Pale vinous 
 brown, marked all over with large irregular blotches of brown. 
 Length, 1 inch 7i lines ; breadth, 1 inch 3 lines. 
 
 90. Strepera ARGUTA — (Hill Crow-Shrike). I^ocality — Vic- 
 toria, South Australia, and Tasmania. Egg — Somewhat long 
 
 in form, ground color rich light brown, with a tinge of pink and 
 
PERCHING BIRDS. 
 
 9 
 
 a zone of reddish buff markings round the larger end. But in 
 a typical sj)eeimen the markings are genei'ally disj)ose(l over the 
 whole surface, and are rich and, comparatively speaking, pro- 
 nounced. In a cabinet this egg I’eadily catches tlie eye, being 
 the most beautiful, and richest in color and iiiai kings, of all tiie 
 species of the genus Strepera. Length, 1 inch 9 lines; breadth, 
 1 inch 2 lines. 
 
 91. Strepera araphonensis — (Grrey Crow- Shrike). Lo- 
 cality — Australia, except North. Egg — The ground color of 
 which is either reddish buff or wood- brown, marked over nearly 
 the whole of the surface with blotches of a darker tint. Length, 
 1 inch, 9 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 2 lines. 
 
 92. GtYMNorhina TiBiCEN — (Piping Crow-Shrike). Locality 
 — Australia, except North. Egg — Ground color, bluish- 
 grey, smudged or clouded all over with drab or brown ; others 
 are spotted with umber, both on the shell and appearing as if 
 beneath the surface. Length 1 inch, 6 or 7 lines ; breadth, 1 
 inch 1 line. 
 
 93. Gymnorhena leuconota — (White-backed Crow-Shrike). 
 Locality — Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South 
 Australia. Egg — Very long in form, and of a dull bluish- 
 white, in some instances tinged with red, marked with large 
 zig-zag streakings of brownish red. Occasionally, eggs are met 
 wdth which are spotted with black or umber-brown. Average 
 length, 1 inch 8 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 1 line. There is a re- 
 markable pair of eggs of this species in my collection, of the 
 usual size and shape, but of a beautiful bluish or greenish 
 color, without any marking except a few indistinct freckles of 
 chestnut about the top. They were taken on Phillip Island, 
 Western Port. 
 
 9d. Gymnorhina organicum {hypoleuca) — (Tasmanian 
 Crow-Shrike). Locality — Tasmania. Egg — Lengthened form, 
 with a ground color of greenish ashy grey, spotted and blotched, 
 particularly at the larger end, with umber-brown and bluish 
 grey, the latter color appearing as if beneath the surface of the 
 shell. Length, I inch 5 lines; breadth, I inch. 
 
 95. Cracticus nigrogularis {rohustus) — (Black-throated 
 Crow -Shrike). Locality — Queensland, New South Wales, 
 Victoria, and South Australia. Egg — Dark yellowish-brown, 
 spotted and clouded with markings of a darker hue, and in some 
 instances with a few minute spots of black. Length, I inch 
 3 lines ; breadth, II lines. 
 
 99. Cracticus {Bulestes) torquatus — (Collared Crow- 
 Shrike). Locality — Queensland, New South W ales, Victoria, 
 and South Australia. Egg — Considerable difference is found 
 to exist in the color, the ground color of some being dark yel- 
 lowish brown, with obscure blotches and marks of a darker hue, 
 and here and there a few black marks not unlike small blots of 
 
10 
 
 OOLOGY OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 ink ; while in others the ground color is much lighter, and the 
 darker markings are more inclined to red, and to form a zone 
 round the larger end. Length, 1 inch 3 lines ; breadth, II lines. 
 
 100. Cracticus {Bulestes) cmEREUS — (Cinereous Crow- 
 Shrike). Locality — Tasmania. Egg — Grround color light 
 
 greenish tinge, spotted over with chestnut or brown, particularly 
 round the larger end, the spots appearing lighter beneath the 
 surface of the shell ; there are also a few ink-like dots on the 
 surface. Length, 1 inch 3 lines ; breadth, 12 lines. 
 
 Family (?). 
 
 Nest bowl-shaped, about six inches in breadth, formed of mud 
 inlaid with grass and feathers, and placed on a bare hori- 
 zontal branch generally overhanging a river or swamp. 
 Clutch, four eggs. 
 
 102. GtRallina PiCATA — (Pied Grrallina). Locality — Aus- 
 tralia. Egg — They differ considerably in color and in shape, 
 some being extremely lengthened, while others bear a relative 
 proportion ; the ground color of some is a beautiful pearl white, 
 of others pale buff ; their markings also differ considerably in 
 form and disposition, being in some instances wholly confined to 
 the larger end, in others distributed over the whole surface, but 
 always inclined to form a zone at the larger end ; in some, the 
 markings are of a deep chestnut-red, in others light red, inter- 
 mingled with large clouded spots of grey appearing as if be- 
 neath the surface of the shell. Medium length, 1 inch 2 lines ; 
 breadth, 10 lines. 
 
 The British Museum places this bird under the family Mota- 
 cillidcB^ but it is obvious that it should not be included with these 
 birds, seeing its habits and manner of nidification are entirely 
 different. 
 
 Family — Campephagina:. 
 
 Graucali, &c. — Flat slight nests of fine short dead twigs curiously 
 joined together with cobwebs and placed in forks of hori- 
 zontal branches. Clutch, two or three eggs. Fachy- 
 cepJialw. — Nests cup-shaped, of fine twigs, lined with 
 fibrous roots and placed in bushes or scrub. Clutch, 
 two or three eggs. Colluricinclce^ &c. — Nests cup-shaped, 
 deep, composed of bark and leaves, lined with fibrous 
 roots and placed at foot of stump, or in hollow parts of 
 trees near the ground. Clutch, four eggs. 
 
 103. GtRAUCAlus melanops — (Black-faced Grraucalus). Lo- 
 cality — Australia and New Gruinea. Egg — Grround color varies 
 from wood-brown to asparagus -green, the blotches and spots, 
 which are generally ‘disposed over the surface, varying from 
 dull chestnut-brown to light yellowish brown ; in some instances 
 
PERCHINa BIRDS. 
 
 11 
 
 they are also sparingly clotted with deep umber brown. Length, 
 1 inch 2k lines ; breadth, lines. 
 
 104. Gtraucalus parvirostris — (Tasmanian Graucalus). 
 
 Locality — Tasmania. Egg — Very similar to the G, melanops, 
 
 ground color beautiful dark green, and spotted or blotched, 
 particularly at the larger end, with umber of different shades. 
 Length, 1 inch 2\ lines ; breadth, lOi lines. 
 
 105. Graucalus mentalis (Varied Graucalus). Locality — 
 Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. ^^Egg — Ground 
 color of a light olive green marked all over with roundish spots 
 and blotches of reddish brown, dark olive, and purplish grey: the 
 latter appears under the shell’s surface. Length, 1 inch, 8 lines ; 
 breadth, 10| lines. 
 
 100. Graucalus itypoleucus — (White-bellied Graucalus). 
 Ijocality — Queensland. — Somewhat smaller than those of the 
 
 other species ; ground color of a beautiful warmish jj^reen, spotted 
 and marked, but more so about the apex, with reddish and chest- 
 nut brown, also with some dark purplish markings appearing as 
 if under the surface of the shell. Length, 13 lines ; breadth, O-l* 
 lines. 
 
 108. Pteropodocvs pitastanella — (Ground Graucalus). 
 Locality — Australia, except North. ^..^Egg — Long and tapering 
 in form, of a polished dark warm green or olive, without any 
 blotches, but the slightest washings over the shell of a darker 
 shade of the same tint, especially on the top of the egg ; others 
 are lightly marbled or clouded all over with a chestnut tint. 
 Length, 1 inch 3 lines; breadth, 10^ lines. 
 
 111. Campepttaua (Lalage) leucomela — (Black and White 
 Campephaga). Ijocality — Queensland and New South Wales. 
 * ^ Egg — Ground color light greyish-green, mottled all over with 
 chestnut, and in some instances with umber, tlie color being so 
 well diffused as to almost hide the ground color. Length, 10 
 lines ; breadth, 7 lines. 
 
 112. Campephaga {Lalage^ HUisrER VLis — (White-shouldered 
 Campephaga). Locality — Australia and New Guinea. Egg — 
 Differs considerably in color, some being of a light green, 
 blotched all over with wood bia)wn, wliile others have a ligliter 
 ground so largely blotched with cliestnut brown as nearly to 
 cover the entire surface of the shell : some specimens are almost 
 of a uniform greyish green. Length, lines ; breadtli, 7| lines. 
 
 113. Pachyckphala gutturalis — (White-throated Thick- 
 head). Locality — Queensland, New^ South Wales, Victoria, and 
 South Australia. ^ ^ Egg — Ground color yellowish wliite, 
 speckled more about tlie larger end with small spots of dark 
 brown or umber, larger blotches of a lighter sliade of the same 
 color appearing beneath the surface of the shell : some speci- 
 mens have more of a pinkish blush i>i the groundcolor, with 
 bolder mai’kings of reddish brown. Length, 11 lines; breadth, 
 8 lines. 
 
12 
 
 OOLOGY OF AUSTEALIAN BIEDS. 
 
 I described these from my own specimens ; because Mr. 
 Eamsay is of opinion that Mr. Gould’s F. gutturalis was 
 described from specimens of the West Australian bird, which 
 he (Mr. Eamsay) has proved to be another species, viz., P. Occi- 
 dent alis. 
 
 — Pachycephala occideetalis — (Western Thickhead). Lo- 
 cality — West Australia. Egg — Ground color of brownish buff, 
 sparingly streaked and spotted with reddish brown and bluish 
 grey, the latter color appearing as if beneath the surface of the 
 shell. Length, lOi lines ; breadth, 8 lines. 
 
 114. Pachycephala glahcuea — (Grey-tailed Thickhead). 
 
 Locality — Tasmania and Bass’s Straits Islands ; also specimens 
 are shown in the Melbourne Museum as having been taken in 
 Victoria. (?) ** Egg — In shape, peculiar and inclined to oval, 
 
 diminishing in a pretty curve from the shoulder to the apex, 
 which is sharper than the bottom end of the egg ; ground color 
 yellowish white, which is darker round the shoulder, where is 
 freckled a zone of small spots of dark brown, and others 
 dimmed as if being under the shell. Length, 11 lines ; breadth. 
 Si lines. 
 
 These dimensions are the average of three clutches (3, 2, 
 and 2 eggs) taken by me in Tasmania. 
 
 115. Pachycephala melanura — (Black-tailed Thickhead). 
 Locality — Queensland. ^Egg — Ground color whiter and markings 
 more pronounced than the known eggs of the same genus ; the 
 markings are of a dark olive or umber, and are mostly about the 
 apex, and have the appearance of spots and smudges struck on 
 obliquely or in a downward direction ; a few grey markings 
 appear under the shell’s surface. Length, 10 lines ; breadth, 
 lines. 
 
 116. Pachycephala rueiyentbis — (Eufous-breasted Thick- 
 head). Locality — Australia, except West. Egg — Of an olive 
 tint, with a zone of indistinct spots and blotches at the larger 
 end. Length, 11 lines ; breadth, 8 lines. 
 
 I once saw a very remarkable set of eggs of this species. 
 Instead of the usual color they were of a rich salmon color, and 
 could have been easily mistaken for those of some species of 
 Honey-eater. 
 
 120. Pachycephala gtlbertt — (Gilbert’s Thickhead). Lo- 
 cality — Victoria, 8outh and West Australia. * ^Egg — Character- 
 istic of the well-known egg of P. rvfiventris, but lighter in 
 color, being of a sickly olive tint, with a belt of spotted mark- 
 ings, about the upper quarter, of olive and dullish grey, the 
 latter color as usual appearing under the shell’s surface. Length, 
 lOi lines ; breadth, 7| lines. 
 
 This interesting Thickhead essentially belongs to the West 
 Australian avifauna, although specimens have been procured in 
 South Austi’alia. It was in October, 1882, I had the extreme 
 
PERCHING BIRDS. 
 
 13 
 
 pleasure of further extending its locality to the Western 
 province of Victoria, having shot a pair in the Wirnmera Dis- 
 trict. But the egg above described was taken in Western Aus- 
 tralia. 
 
 122. Pachycephala {Timixos) olivacea — (Olivaceous 
 Thickhead). Locality — New South Wales, Victoria, South 
 Australia, and Tasmania. * * JEgg — Extremely beautiful ; form 
 being characteristic of that of the P. glaucura, having the 
 peculiar but graceful diminishing curve from the shoulder to 
 the apex, which is as sharp as the bottom end of the egg ; 
 ground color generally whitish, sometimes with a tinge of 
 yellow, with a few spots or blotches of umber of different 
 shades scattered over the shell, and inclined to form a belt 
 round the shoulder, where a few appear as if beneath the shell. 
 Length, 1 inch 1 line ; breadth, lines. 
 
 This description is from Tasmanian specimens : they appear 
 very rare on our continent ; I only know of one nest having been 
 taken, and that in South Grippsland. 
 
 128. CoLLURiciNCLA HARMONICA — ( Harmoiiious Shrike - 
 Thrush). Locality — Australia, except North and West. JEgg 
 — Beautiful pearly white, thinly sprinkled with large blotches 
 of light chestnut-brown and dull bluish grey, the latter color 
 appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell. Length, 1 inch 
 2 lines ; breadth, 10 lines. 
 
 124. Collijrioincla rufiventris — (Buff -bellied Shrike- 
 Thrush). Locality — West Australia. JEgg — Beautiful bluish 
 or pearly white, with large blotches of reddish olive-brown and 
 dark grey, the latter appearing as if beneath the surface of the 
 shell. Length, 1 inch 1 line ; breadth, 10 lines. 
 
 125. CoLLURTciNCLA BRUNNEA — (Brown’s Shrike-Thrush ). 
 Locality — North Australia and New Gruinea. Egg — Pearly 
 bluish white, spotted and blotched with markings of olive-brown 
 and grey, the latter appearing as if beneath the surface of the 
 shell. Length, 1 inch 2 lines ; breadth, 10 lines. 
 
 126. CoLLURiciNCLA SELBiT — (Selby’s Strike-Thrush). Lo~ 
 cality — Tasmania and Flinders Island. ^^Egg — Very similar 
 to that of the (7. harmonica^ smooth shell and pearly white, 
 sparingly marked with umber and dark olive blotches, and dull 
 grey markings appearing beneath the shell’s surface. Length, 
 1 inch 2 lines; breadth, 10 lines. 
 
 This Thrush not unfrequently constructs its nest in an old 
 deserted nest of some other species of bird, or in that of the 
 Hing-tailed Opossum. 
 
 127. CoLLURicTNCLA PARYULA — (Little Striko-Thrush). Lo- 
 cality — North Australia. Egg — Beautiful pearly flesh- white 
 regularly spotted all over with dull reddish orange and umber- 
 brown ; like the eggs of the other species of the genus, they are 
 also sprinkled over with bluish markings, which appear as if 
 
14 
 
 OOLOGY OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 beDeath the surface of the shell. Leugth, 1 inch ; breadth, 9 
 lines. 
 
 128. CoLLUEicmcLA RUFiOASTEE — (Rusty-breasted Shrike- 
 Thrush). Locality — Queensland, New South Wales, and New 
 Griiinea. JEgg — White, thickly sprinkled over the surface with 
 dull slate -colored and grey freckles, closer towards the thick 
 end, where they form a zone or crowded patch on the tip. 
 (Earn say.) 
 
 129. Falcotculits feontatus — (Frontal Shrike-Tit). Lo- 
 cality — Australia, except North and West. ^"^JEgg — Pearly white 
 and shiny, frechled over, especially at the larger end, with dark 
 olive or umber spots, as many spots of a greyish color appearing 
 beneath the shell’s surface. Length, 10^ lines ; breadth, 7^ lines. 
 
 130. Falcunculus leucogastee — (White-bellied Shrike- 
 Tit). Locality — West Australia. Llgg — Glossy white, with 
 numerous minute speckles of dark olive most thickly disposed 
 at the larger end. Length, 10^ lines ; breadth, 7i lines. 
 
 131. Oeeoica ceistata — (Crested Oreoica). Locality — Aus- 
 tralia, excejjt North. Lgg — Vary much in color, the ground- 
 tint being bluish white, in some instances marked all over with 
 minute spots of ink-black, in others with long zig-zag lines 
 of the same hue. In some these markings are confined to the 
 larger end, where they form a zone ; in others they are equally 
 spread all over the surface, intermingled with black markings, 
 also blotches of grey, appearing as if beneath the surface of the 
 shell ; and some eggs have been found with the ground color of 
 the larger end of a beautiful bluish green. Length, 1 inch 1^ 
 lines ; breadth, 9^ lines. 
 
 Family — MusciCAPiDiE. — Flycatchers. 
 
 Elegant, compact, cup-shaped nests, composed of dried grasses, 
 bark, and roots matted together, covered with cobwebs 
 and generally placed on horizontal dead branches. Clutch, 
 three eggs. 
 
 134. Ehipiduea albiscapa — (White-shafted Fantail). Lo- 
 cality — Australia, except North, and Tasmania. Fgg — Ground 
 color white, blotched all over, but particularly at the larger end, 
 with brown slightly tinged with olive. Length, 7 lines ; breadth, 
 5i lines. 
 
 136. Ehipiduea EUFiFEONS — (Eufous-f rented Fantail). Lo- 
 cality — Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. Egg — • 
 ground color stony white, speckled all over with purple and yel- 
 lowish brown spots and markings disposed so numerously as to 
 form a zone at the larger end. Length, 8 lines ; breadth, 6 lines. 
 
 139. Saulopeocta motactlloides — (Black Fantail). Lo- 
 cality — Australia. Egg — Dull greenish wLite, banded round 
 the centre or towards the larger end with blotches and spots of 
 
PERCHING BIRDS. 
 
 15 
 
 blackish and chestnut brown, which in some instances are very 
 minute. Length, 9i lines ; breadth, 7 lines. 
 
 141. Seisijra. inquieta. — (Restless Flycatcher). Locality 
 — Australia, except North. Egg — Dull white, distinctly zoned 
 round the centre with spots of chestnut and greyish brown, the 
 latter color appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell. 
 Length, lines ; breadth, 7 lines. 
 
 142. PiEzoRHYNCHUS NiTiDUs — (Shining Flycatcher). Lo- 
 cality — Queensland and New Gruinea. Egg — Bluish white, 
 blotched and spotted all over with olive and greyish brown, the 
 spots of the latter hue being less numerous and more obscure — 
 the spots inclining towards the form of a zone at the larger end. 
 Length, 10 lines ; breadth, 7 lines. 
 
 145. Myiagra concinna — (Pretty Flycatcher). Locality — 
 Queensland. ^Egg — Chubby-like, with a very rounded apex, and 
 of a whitish ground color encircled about the centre with a belt 
 of umber and grey spots and small blotches ; the latter color 
 appears as if beneath the surface of the shell. Length, 7f lines ; 
 breadth, 6 lines. 
 
 146. Myiagra NiTiDA (rw5^ci^Z^) — (Shining Flycatcher). Lo- 
 cality — Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. 
 Egg — Somewhat round in form, and of a greenish white, spotted 
 and blotched all over with umber-brown, yellowish brown, and 
 obscure markings of purplish grey. Length, 9 lines ; breadth, 
 7 lines. 
 
 149. Micrceca fascinans — (Brown Flycatcher). Locality 
 — Australia, except West. Egg — Pale greenish blue, strongly 
 marked with dashes of chestnut-brown and indistinct blotches 
 of grey. Length, 9 lines ; breadth, 6i lines. 
 
 — . Monarcha albiventris — (White-bellied Flycatcher). 
 Locality — Queensland. Egg — Creamy white, covered with 
 minute rufous dots thinly dispersed over the middle and smaller 
 end, and so thickly at the larger end as to coalesce and form a 
 rufous cap. Length, 7| lines ; breadth, 6 lines. 
 
 . Family — Saxicolid^. — Robins. 
 
 Nests round, cup-shaped, and constructed of strips of soft bark 
 and fibrous matter, trimmed with lichens, &c., lined with 
 hair or fur, and generally situated in crevices or forks of 
 trees. Clutch, three eggs. 
 
 163. Erythrodryas rhodixogaster — ^(Pink-breasted Wood 
 Robin). Locality — Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. 
 Egg — Greenish white, thickly sprinkled with light chestnut and 
 purplish brown. Length, lines ; breadth, 6i lines. 
 
 165. Petroica multicolor — (Scarlet-breasted Robin). Lo- 
 cality — Australia, except North and Tasmania. Egg — Greenish 
 white, slightly tinged with bluish or flesh color, rather minutely 
 
16 
 
 OOLOGY OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 freckled with olive-brown and purplish grey, the latter more 
 obscure than the former. The freckles are very generally dis- 
 persed over the surface of the shell, but in some instances they 
 also form a zone near the larger end. Length, 8f lines ; breadth, 
 7 lines. 
 
 166. Peteoica GOODENOYii. — (Red-capped Robin) . Locality 
 — Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South and West 
 Australia. Egg — Bluish white, with numerous fine speckles, 
 particularly at the larger end, of yellowish brown and purplish 
 grey, the latter appearing as if beneath the shell. Length, 7^ 
 lines ; breadth, 6 lines. 
 
 167. Peteoica phcenicia — (Flame -breasted Robin). Lo- 
 cality — Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, 
 and Tasmania. Egg — Greneral color is greenish white, spotted 
 and freckled with purplish and chestnut brown. Much variety 
 occurs in these markings, some assuming the form of large, bold, 
 irregular spots and blotches, while in others they are merely 
 minute freckles. Length, 9 lines ; breadth, 7 lines. 
 
 168. Melanodetas cucullata — (Hooded Robin). Locality 
 — Australia, except North. Egg — Rather lengthened in form, 
 is light olive-green without any spots or markings, but occasion- 
 ally washed with brown, particularly at the larger end. Length, 
 10 lines ; breadth, 7i lines. 
 
 170. Amaueodeyas vittata — (Dusky Robin). Locality — 
 Tasmania and King’s Island. Egg — Differs in color from those 
 of every other member of the genus, but more nearly assimilates 
 in tint to those of Melanodryas cucullata than of any other. It 
 is of a light greenish blue ; some are freckled and spotted with 
 indistinct markings of brown. Length, 10^ lines ; breadth, 8 
 lines. 
 
 173. Detmodes beunneopygia — (Scrub Robin). Locality — 
 Victoria and South Australia. *^Egg — Shell a little glossy; 
 ground color, greenish or greyish white, completely spotted with 
 fine spots of umber and dark grey ; the spots have a tendency to 
 enlarge and thicken round the upper quarter of the egg. Length, 
 lOf lines ; breadth, 8| lines. 
 
 174. Deymodes spueeciliaris — (Eastern Scrub-Robin). Lo- 
 cality — North Australia. Egg — Regular oval shape, and of a 
 very light stone-grey, thickly covered with small umber blotches, 
 increasing in size and more thickly placed at the larger end. 
 Length, 1 inch ; breadth, 8|^ lines. 
 
 175. Eopsalteia austealis — (Yellow-breasted Robin). Zo- 
 cality — New South Wales and Victoria. Egg — Bright apple- 
 green, speckled and spotted all over with chestnut brown and 
 blackish brown, the latter tint being much less conspicuous 
 than the former. Length, 9| lines ; breadth, 7i lines. 
 
 176. Eopsalteia geiseooulaets — ( G-rey- breasted Robin)* 
 Locality — South and West Australia. Egg — More lengthened 
 
PEKCHINQ BIEDS. 
 
 11 
 
 in form than those of M Australis, and of a wood-brown, 
 obscurely freckled with yellowish red. Length, 10 lines ; breadth, 
 7i lines. 
 
 Family — Menu Rin^. — Lyre- Bi rd s . 
 
 Nests dome -shaped, covered in, side entrance, constructed of 
 strong sticks, roots, ferns, &c., lined inside with feathers, 
 and placed on the ground or in scrub. Egg, one a season. 
 
 179. Menura superb a — (Lyre-Bird). Locality — New South 
 Wales. Egg — Not described in Grould’s work, but I noticed one 
 in the Macleayan Museum, Sydney, which appeared exactly 
 similar in shape, size, and coloring to that of the M. Vctoricc. 
 
 180. Menura Victoria — (Queen Victoria’s Lyre-Bird). Lch 
 
 cality — Victoria. Egg — Ground color dark purplish grey, with 
 numerous spots of umber or chocolate, about as many spots of 
 dark violet or a darker hue of the ground color appearing be- 
 neath the surface of the shell, both classes of markings being 
 more thickly blended about the top of the egg, where they are 
 inclined to form a belt; other specimens, instead of being spotted, 
 are blotched or smudged. Character of the shell — Surface some- 
 what rough, depressed all over with pin-point-like indents, and 
 with, sometimes, little ridges like the fibrous ribs of a leaf. An 
 egg taken at Warragul measured — length, inches; breadth. 
 
 If inches. Another from Wood’s Point district — length, 2f 
 inches ; breadth. If inches. 
 
 The toil attending the search for Lyre-Birds’ nests, of all 
 nesting outs, is the most arduous, and must be experienced to be 
 fully realised ; because, firstly, these curious birds incubate in 
 August, one of our wettest months of the year, consequently 
 terribly boggy and greasy tracks have to be travelled ; secondly, 
 the nature of country to be scoured is of the roughest and wild- 
 est that Gippsland can produce. You have to thread your way 
 through thickly -studded hazel-tree scrub, with wet cat -head 
 ferns up to your knees, then to tear through rank, rasping 
 sword grass which cuts your very clothes, not unfrequently 
 nastily gashing your unprotected hands and face, next entangled 
 in a labyrinth of wire grass holding you at every step, and 
 hiding treacherous slippery logs, on one of which, perhaps, your 
 right foot slips, causing you to perform a “species” of “double 
 shuffle” with your left in order to preserve your equillibrium, 
 which, however, is as often destroyed as not, and, as a natural 
 consequence and to the “break-down,” you land on your 
 
 side with a grunt, and wallow amongst rank vegetation. To 
 climb the opposite hill you cross on “all-fours” a wet saturated 
 log which naturally bridges the gully : in accomplishing this 
 awkward task overhanging tree-fern fronds dash in your face, 
 drenching you nearly as much as if some individual had thrown 
 a pail of water over you. Notwithstanding the chilly weather, 
 there is always a humidity in these dense forests, and with such 
 
18 
 
 OOLOGY OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 wholesome exercise you are soon bathed in perspiration, and 
 gladly halt now and again for breathing-time at the head of some 
 lovely gully where the scrub is not so dense and you stand in one 
 of Nature’s silent picturesque temples. How enthralling! Over- 
 head an arched roof of long handsome tree-fern fronds — at your 
 feet a perfect carpet of finer varieties of fern in place of cat- 
 head and wire grass, and elegant pillars of tree-fern trunks 
 hung with numerous parasitic ferns, and mosses tinted with early 
 Spring’s most beautiful verdant hues confront you instead of 
 straight variegated stems of hazel. Here the awful stillness of 
 an Australian . forest is hardly broken save by the somewhat 
 soothing sound of a continual hissing and surging of the sea of 
 l^ucalypti foliage some 200 feet towards the zenith, the chirp of 
 the Yellow Robin, or a beautiful liquid cadenza from a Lyre Bird 
 down the gully. 
 
 All the natural grandeur of such a romantic sylvan nook as 
 this force upon the memory the concluding verses of Haeser’s 
 beautiful and truthful part-song ‘‘ To the Forest,” which is not 
 often sung by our Metropolitan Liedertafel : — 
 
 “ I seek thy shadows slowly straying, 
 
 And dream of love’s great happiness ; 
 
 ’Tis where thy verdant boughs are swaying, 
 
 That love can all to love express. 
 
 “ And in thy temple will I, bending, 
 
 The wondrous works of God adore. 
 
 Thine is the pow’r, O Lord, extending 
 O’er all the world for evermore.” 
 
 The nest of Queen Victoria’s Lyre-Bird is generally placed 
 on the ground at the base of a stump, or blackwood or similar 
 tree, but sometimes it is situated a little distance from the 
 ground in a fern-tree head, elbow of a musk-tree, or some hol- 
 lowed tree-trunk. It is dome-shaped, or covered in, with a side 
 entrance, constructed of fine strong rootlets, leaves, and ferns, 
 and lined with feathers of the bird. This, the nest proper, is 
 about a foot high, but considerably higher if the outer covering 
 and foundation of coarse sticks are taken into consideration. 
 
 I was never rewarded by finding a new nest, but have found 
 old and deserted ones. I know of nests and eggs seen in July, 
 and in one instance as early as the latter end of June. 
 
 There is a curious fact, not hitherto mentioned, in connection 
 with the nidification of this bird, that if its nest be discovered 
 when building, it will desert or destroy the partly-formed struc- 
 ture, and commence operations elsewhere ; or if the egg be laid, 
 and be handled and replaced in the nest, the bird will imme- 
 diately forsake it. 
 
 181. Menuea Albeeti — (Prince Albert’s Lyre-Bird). Lo- 
 cality — Queensland and New South Wales. Egg — Deep purplish 
 chocolate, irregularly blotched and freckled with a darker color. 
 Length, barely 2} inches ; breadth, If inches. 
 
PERCTIlNa BIRDS. 
 
 19 
 
 Family ? 
 
 !N^ests open, composed of twigs, lined with finer twigs and grass, 
 and placed in thick undergrowth or scrub. Clutch, two eggs. 
 
 182. PsOPiiODES CREPITANS — (Coach-whip Bird). Locality 
 — Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. Egg — Grreenisli 
 white, sparingly dotted with black and greyish black, the latter 
 color appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell, and the 
 spots being most numerous at the large end. In some specimens 
 the markings assume the form of commas, small oblique dashes, 
 and crooked Hebrew-like characters. The egg is lengthened and 
 elegant in form. Length, 1 inch 1 line ; breadth, 9^ lines. 
 
 Birds possess other enemies than human nest-robbers, as is 
 ])roved by the following instances: — One season I was encamped 
 in a snug nook on the shores of Lake King, and discovered in a 
 Ihicket the nest of a Cock-whip Bird being built ; on my second 
 visit it contained two eggs ; to prove if that were the full clutch 
 I left them for a day or two ; at the end of that period my 
 vexation can be imagined when I found the eggs gone. I was 
 convinced that no human being had forestalled me, but came to 
 the conclusion that they were taken by bush-rats, with which that 
 part of the country abounded. In the Wiinmera District I 
 found the nest of a Wattle-Bird with a fresh egg, which I left to 
 obtain the pair ; and on my return they were rudely broken ; 
 the fracture bore distinct impressions of the bill of a larger bird, 
 probably that of a crow, as they are notorious nest-robbers. 
 
 I relate another instance which was actually witnessed by a 
 friend of mine. His attention was directed to a noise created 
 by a pair of Acanthizas, and he soon discovered that the}^ had 
 a nest in a bracken fern, and that on a log underneath was a 
 tiger snake partly raised up with a gracefully curved neck, 
 thrusting its head into the side entrance of the nest and abstract- 
 ing an unfledged young one, letting it drop on the ground. At 
 the next attempt it drew forth another. My friend thought it 
 high time to terminate this proceeding, and when looking about 
 for some instrument to despatch the enemy his snakeship 
 quietly decamped. 
 
 184. Sphenostoma cristatum — (Crested Wedge-Tail). Lo- 
 cality — New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. Egg 
 — Like that of PsopJiodes crepitans, lengthened and elegant in 
 form, ground color delicate greenish blue, thinly sprinkled with 
 purplish black specks, particularly at the larger end. In some 
 instances these purple black specks and markings assume forms 
 similar to those described as occuring on the egg of P. crepitans. 
 Length, lines ; breadth, 7^ lines. 
 
20 
 
 OOLOGY OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 Fam ily — Lu s c in i dm. — W arblers. 
 
 Nests oblong and dome- shaped, with side entrance, constructed of 
 grasses, moss, bark, spiders’ old nests, &c., lined with 
 feathers or fur and placed on the ground, in bushes, or 
 suspended to the extremity of branches of trees. Clutch, 
 three or four eggs. 
 
 155. Gertgone albogularts — (White-throated Gerygone). 
 
 Locality — Queensland and New South Wales. — Very 
 
 similar, both in size and color, to that of the Malurus cyaneus 
 (Suberb Warbler), white ground, and speckled with reddish 
 brown. Length, lines ; breadth, 6 lines. 
 
 156. Gerygone eusca — (Brown Gerygone). Locality — 
 Lower Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. Egg — 
 Minutely speckled with reddish brown on a white ground. 
 Length, 7 J lines ; breadth, 5| lines. 
 
 161. Smtcrornis breyirostris — (Short-billed Smicrornis), 
 Local if y — Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. Egg — 
 Dull buff, marked wdth extremely fine freckles at the larger 
 end. Length, 6| lines ; breadth, lines. This is one of the 
 smallest of Australian eggs. 
 
 185. Malurus cyaneus — (Superb Warbler). Locality — 
 Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. 
 Egg — Delicate flesh-white, sprinkled with spots and blotches of 
 reddish-brown, which are more abundant, and form an irregular 
 zone at the larger extremity. Length, 8 lines ; breadth, 5i lines. 
 
 186. Malurus longicauuus — (Long-tailed Superb War- 
 bler). Locality — Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. 
 Egg — Similar character, but proportionately larger than that of 
 M. cyaneus, of a fresh-white, blotched and spotted with markings 
 of reddish brown, particularly at the larger end, where these 
 form an irregular zone. Length, nearly 8i lines ; breadth, 6i 
 lines. 
 
 188. Malurus splendens. — (Banded Superb Warbler). 
 Locality — West Australia. Egg — Delicate flesh-white, thickly 
 blotched, reddish-brown, especially at the larger end. Length, 
 
 lines ; breadth, 6^ lines. 
 
 189. Malurus elegans — (Graceful Superb Warbler). Lo- 
 cality — West Australia. Egg — Delicate flesh-white, freckled 
 with spots of reddish-brown, which are much thicker at the 
 larger end. Length, 8 lines ; breadth, 6 lines. 
 
 190. Malurus pulciierrimus — (Blue -breasted Superb 
 Warbler). Locality — West Australia. Egg — Resembles those 
 of the other species of the genus, but the blotches very much 
 larger, 
 
 191. Malurus LAMBERT! — (Lambert’s Superb Warbler.) Lo 
 cality — Australia, except Noilh and West. * * Egg — Pinkish 
 
PEECHINa BIEDS. 
 
 21 
 
 white, marked about the apex with coalesced patches of reddish 
 brown. Length, 8-^ lines ; breadth, 6 lines. 
 
 194. Malukus leucopterus — ( White - winged Superb 
 Warbler). Locality — New South Wales, Victoria, and West 
 Australia. Egg — Flesh-white, finely freckled with reddish- 
 brown, forming a zone at the larger end. Length, 7i lines; 
 breadth, 5^ lines. 
 
 195. Malurus leuconotus — (White-backed Superb War- 
 bler). Locality — New South Wales, South Australia, and 
 Interior. Egg — Pearly white, with a zone of spots on the 
 thicker end, and a few dots of the same tint sprinkled over 
 the rest of the surface. Length, 7\ lines; breadth, 5^ lines. 
 (Ramsay). 
 
 19G. Malurus melanocephalus — ( Black- headed Superb 
 Warbler). Locality — Queensland. * Egg — Roundish, white, 
 minutely speckled all over the surface and about the apex in the 
 form of a zone, with pinkish red. Length, 6f lines ; breadth, 5^ 
 lines. 
 
 197. Malurus cruentatus — [Brownii). — (Brown’s Superb 
 Warbler). Locality — North Australia. Egg — White, and 
 speckled with reddish dots all over the surface, but forming a 
 zone and sometimes a patch at the thickest end. Length, 7i 
 lines; breadth, lines. (Ramsay). 
 
 201. Stipiturus malachurus — :(Emu Wren). Locality — 
 Australia, except North and Tasmania. Egg — Sprinkled all over 
 with minute dots of a light reddish-brown, particularly at the 
 larger end, where it is blotched with the same color. Some 
 specimens are minutely freckled all over. The ground-color is a 
 delicate white, with a blush of pink before the egg is blown. 
 Length, 6^ lines ; breadth, 4i lines. I have a pair of eggs taken 
 in Tasmania measuring in length 7\ lines ; breadth, 6 lines. 
 
 202. Spheistura brachpytera — (Bristle Bird). Locality — 
 Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. Egg — Grround 
 color almost white, the whole of the surface thickly freckled 
 with dots of blackish-brown and reddish-brown, with a few of a 
 pale lilac tint here and there, some of the dots very minute, 
 others larger and roundish in shape. Shape of egg oval, rather 
 swollen, and the shell very thin. Length, 1 inch ; breadth, 9 lines. 
 (Ramsay). 
 
 203. Sphenura lois^girostris — (Long-billed Bristle-bird). 
 Locality — West Australia. Egg — Grround-color, dull brownish 
 white, blotched and freckled with purplish brown, some of the 
 blotches appearing as if beneath the surface, particularly at the 
 larger end, where they are most numerous. 
 
 205. Hylacola pyrrhopygia — (Red-rumped Hylacola). Lo- 
 cality — Australia, except North and West. ^Egg — Pinkish white 
 ground, which is nearly hidden by the deep reddish or chocolate 
 brown, spotted and clouded all over the shell, thickening 
 
22 
 
 OOLOGY OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 gradually towards the top, where is formed quite a thick band- 
 Length, lines ; breadth, 6| lines. 
 
 207. Ptcnoptilus ploccosus — (Downy Pycnoptilus). Lo- 
 cality — Victoria. * * Eyg — Very rare. Shell thin and l3rittle, 
 ground color of a uniform light chocolate or drab, with a slight 
 blended band of a darker tint of the same color around the top. 
 Length, 1 inch ; breadth, 9 lines. 
 
 212. CiSTicoLA RUFiCEPs — (Eufus-headed Grrass- warbler). 
 
 Locality — Australia, except West, and New Gruinea. Egg — 
 
 Grround color beautiful bright bluish-green, sparingly blotched 
 with comparatively large patches of red ; other specimens are 
 more finely speckled, especially about the top of the egg. 
 Length, 7 lines ; breadth, 5-2- lines. 
 
 213. Seeicoenis citekooulaeis — ( White-throated Seri- 
 eornis). Lomlity — Queensland and New South Wales. Egg— 
 Much elongated in form, vary considerably in color, the most 
 constant tint being a clove brown, freckled over the larger end 
 with dark umber, frequently assuming the form of a complete 
 band or zone. Medium length 1 inch ; breadth, 8 lines. 
 
 214. Seeicoenis humilis — (Sombre-colored Sericornis). 
 Locality — Tasmania. Egg — Large for the size of the bird, of a 
 reddish-white, curiously freckled and marked all over with 
 reddish-brown, particularly at the larger end, where the mark- 
 ings assume the form of a zone. Length, 10| lines ; breadth, 8 
 lines. 
 
 215. Seetcoenis osoulans. — (Allied Sericornis). Locality 
 
 — Victoria and South Australia. Egg — Grround color of a 
 
 w^armish wash, very finely freckled with purplish-brown spots, 
 which gradually thicken and blend towards the larger end, 
 wLere they form a zone. Length, 9| lines ; breadth, 7 lines. 
 
 216. Seeicoeistis frontalis — (White-fronted Sericornis). 
 Locality — Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South 
 Australia. Egg — Dull flesh-white, freckled and streaked with 
 purplish-brown, particularly at the larger end. Length, 10 lines ; 
 breadth, 7J lines. 
 
 218. Seeicoenis MACULATUS — (Spotted Sericornis). Locality 
 — New South Wales, Victoria, South and West Australia. Egg 
 — Reddish-white, minutely freckled and streaked with reddish- 
 brown, particularly at the larger end. Length, 9 lines ; breadth, 
 7 lines. 
 
 219. Seeicoenis magnieosteis — (Large-billed Sericornis). 
 Locality — Queensland and New South Wales. Egg — Grround- 
 color varies from bluish white to dull white, with the larger end 
 sparingly washed, freckled, and streaked with dark brown ; 
 large for the size of the bird. Length, 9i lines ; breadth, 7 
 lines. 
 
 220. Acanthtza pusilla — (Little Brown Acanthiza). Lo- 
 cality — Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. Egg — 
 
PERCHING BIRDS. 
 
 23 
 
 Beautiful pearly white, sprinkled and spatted with very fine 
 specks of reddish brown, forming in some instances a zone near 
 the larger end. Length, 8^ lines ; breadth, G lines. 
 
 221. Acanthiza BIKMENE.NSIS — -(Tasmanian Acanthiza). 
 Locality — Tasmania. Egg — Beautiful pearly bluish white, 
 sprinkled and spotted with reddish brown : in some instances 
 the spots form a z.one round the larger end. Length, SJ lines ; 
 breadth, 6 lines. 
 
 During my recent visit Tasmania I had the opportunity of 
 recording the lapse of time between the delivery of the eggs of 
 this Acanthiza. A delivery occurred every other day thus : — 
 first egg on Wednesday, 17th October; second and third eggs 
 on the following Friday and Sunday respectively. 
 
 223. Acanthiza apicalis — (Western Acanthiza), Locality 
 — West Australia. Egg — Flesh-white, thickly freckled with 
 reddish chestnut, the freckles becoming so numerous at the 
 larger end as to form a complete zone. Length, 8 lines ; breadth, 
 6 lines. 
 
 225. Acanthiza inopata — (Plain-colored Acanthiza). Lo- 
 cality — South and West Australia. Egg — White color tinged 
 with greenish grey. Length, 1\ lines; breadth, lines.. 
 
 226. Acanthiza nana — (Little Acanthiza). Locality — 
 
 Australia, except North and West, Egg — Smooth surface, 
 
 pearly- white, and long in form, freckled all over with reddish 
 chestnut, which is more thickly dispersed about the larger end. 
 Length, 8i| lines ; breadth, 5^ lines. 
 
 227. Acanthiza lineata — (Striated Acanthiza). Locality 
 
 — Australia, except North and VVest. Egg — Smooth surface, 
 
 fleshy- white, very finely speckled with reddish chestnut, some- 
 times in form of a narrow belt round the larger end, but more 
 frequently in the form of a thick patch or blotch exactly on the 
 top of the egg. Length, 8 lines ; breadth, 6 lines. 
 
 228. Acanthiza magna — (Great Acanthiza). Locality — 
 Tasmania. Egg — Similar to those of the other species of this 
 genus ; pearly- white, blotched with dull red, apex rounded. 
 Length, 9 lines ; breadth, 6^ lines. 
 
 This information is supplied me by the Bev. H. T. Hull, an 
 obserdng naturalist in Tasmania. 
 
 I procured a specimen in the flesh of the scarce Great 
 Acanthiza. In a deep recess of Mount Wellington, piloted by 
 an energetic young egg-collector, a solitary bird fell the prey of 
 our gun. The bird, though barely 4^ inches long, was “bagged” 
 in triumph. This is the first skin obtained since the one Gould 
 figured in the folio supplement to his celebrated work, the 
 “ Birds of Australia,” nearly 30 years ago. 
 
 229. Geobasileus chrysorrhous — ■ (Yellow-rumped Geo- 
 basileus). Locality — Australia and Tasmania. Egg — Beautiful 
 uniform pearly-white color ; but occasionally they are found 
 
24 
 
 OOLOaY OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 sprinkled over with very minute specks of reddish yellow, which 
 in some instances form a zone at the larger end. Length, 9 
 lines ; breadth, 6 lines. 
 
 This common but nevertheless interesting little bird appears 
 to be very fond of the company of other members of the feathered 
 race. On several occasions in Tasmania I saw its nest attached 
 to the bottom of that of the Common Magpie. In one instance 
 each contained young, and all appeared to live in perfect 
 harmony. In another instance each had fresh eggs. 
 
 230. Gteobasiletjs reguloides — (B ufl-rumped Geobasileus). 
 Locality — Australia, except North and West. — Of a 
 
 uniform pearly-white. Length, 8 lines ; breadth, 6 lines. 
 
 234. Xerophila leucopsis — (M liite-faced Xerophila). Lo- 
 cality — Australia, except North and West. ^Egg — Pinkish white 
 or fleshy ground color, thickly spotted and smudged all over 
 (more or less) with pinkish or reddish chocolate, sometimes inter- 
 spersed with deep purplish grey, and in others these markings 
 thicken about the upper quarter of the egg. Length, 8| lines ; 
 breadth, 6^ lines. 
 
 It will be observed that Mr. Gould has described for this the 
 egg of some other bird. 
 
 235. PYRRHOLiEMUS BRU?^i^’'EUS — (Red Throat). Locality — 
 Victoria, South and West Australia. Egg — Of a dull olive 
 brown, nearly of a uniform bronze tint, usually without mark- 
 ings, but sometimes has an indistinct ring of minute dots on the 
 larger end, where it forms a patch of a darker shade. Length, 9^ 
 lines; breadth, 7 lines. (Ramsay), 
 
 236. Origma rubricata — (Rock- Warbler). Locality — 
 Queensland and New South Wales. Egg — Pure and glossy 
 white. Length, lines ; breadth, 6^ lines. 
 
 237. Calamanthus euliginosus — (S triated Calamanthus). 
 Locality — Victoria and Tasmania. Egg — Rather large and 
 somewhat round in form, of a reddish wood-brown, obscurely 
 clouded with markings of reddish brown, the larger end being 
 darkest. Length, lOi lines ; breadth, 8 lines. 
 
 238. Calamaiythus campestris — (Field Calamanthus). 
 Locality — Victoria, South and West Australia. Egg — Ground 
 color reddish buff, blended all over with markings of deep 
 chestnut-brown, gradually deepening towards the larger end, 
 where they form quite a dark top to the egg. Length, 10 lines ; 
 breadth, 7 lines. 
 
 239. Chthonicola sagittata — (L ittle Chthonicola). Lo- 
 cality — Australia, except North and West. Egg — Light 
 cochineal-red, with a zone of blackish-brown spots at the larger 
 end. Length, 9 lines ; breadth, 7 lines. 
 
PERCHING BIRDS. 
 
 25 
 
 Family — Eptliiaiiuras. 
 
 Nests cup-shaped, made of grasses lined with hair, and placed in 
 low thick bushes. Clutch, three eggs. 
 
 231. Epiithiais^ura albifrons — (White-fronted Ephthianura). 
 Locality — Australia and Tasmania. Both Mr. Grould and Mr. 
 Eamsay state that Tasmania is not a habitat of this species, 
 although the former admits they are very common, and breed 
 on some of the islands in Bass’s Straits. Egy — Beautiful white, 
 sometimes of a pinkish tint, spotted, others irregularly marked 
 with bright deep reddish brown at the larger end, where oc- 
 casionally they form an indistinct zone. In some specimens the 
 spots are crowded at the top, and very sparingly sprinkled on 
 the other parts of the egg. Mr. Ramsay furnished the length, 
 6i to 7 lines ; breadth, 5 lines ; but the medium measurement of 
 those I have taken in Victoria, and of those forwarded to me 
 from Tasmania, is, length 8 lines ; breadth, 6-| lines. 
 
 232. Ephthianura aurtfrons — ( Orange-fronted Epht- 
 hianura). Locality — New South Wales, Victoria, and South 
 Australia. Egg — From a nest and eggs in the Sydney Museum 
 the latter appear in size and markings similar to those of the 
 E. alhifrons. 
 
 233. Ephthianura tricolor — (Tricolored Ephthianura). 
 Locality — Australia except North and West. ^^Egg — Smaller 
 and dumpier than those of the two preceding species, pinky 
 white, sparingly spotted with small round distinct spots of dark 
 pinky red, which are more numerous towards the larger end. 
 Length, 7 lines ; breadth, 6 lines. 
 
 Family — Motacillid^. — Larks. 
 
 Nests composed of dried grasses and placed in a depression in 
 the ground, generally beneath tufts of grass. Clutch, 
 three or four eggs. 
 
 240. Anthus australis — (Australian Pipit). Locality — 
 Australia and Tasmania. Egg — Lengthened form, greyish white, 
 blotched and freckled with light chestnut-brown and purplish 
 grey, the latter color appearing as if beneath the surface of the 
 shell. Length, 11 lines; breadth, 7i lines. 
 
 241. CiNCLORAMPHUs CRURALTS — (Brown Cincloramphus). 
 Locality — Australia, except North and West. ^^Egg — Grround 
 color of a pinkish tinge, with pinkish red and purplish spots 
 freckled over the whole surface, the purplish markings appearing 
 under the surface of the shell. Length, Hi lines ; breadth. Si- 
 lines. 
 
 242. Cincloramphus cantallans — (Black-breasted Cin- 
 cloramphus). Locality — Victoria, and South Australia. * 
 
 — Similar to that of G. cruralis, hut, if anything, more lengthened 
 
26 
 
 OOLOaT OF AtTOTRALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 in form., and marking's rather more pronounced. Length, 12 
 lines ; breadth, 8 lines. 
 
 248. pTElsrcEDUS uufescens — (Eufous-breasted Cincloram- 
 phus). Localitii — Australia. E(rg — Purplish- white, very broadly 
 marked with freckles and small blotches of deep chestnut- 
 brown, so much so as frequently to render the blotches more 
 conspicuous than the ground color. Length, 10 lines ; breadth, 
 '7i lines. 
 
 248. Mieaeea hobseielBtt — (Horsfield’s BushrLark). Lo- 
 cality — Australia. ^ Egg — Very like that of the AntJi us, ex- 
 cepting smaller in size ; completely speckled with drab or grey. 
 Length, 9 lines ; breadth, lines. 
 
 Eami ly — — - — — ?— GrYas s-B ir d s. 
 
 Nests deep, cup-shaped, formed of sw^amp grasses and portions 
 of reeds, lined with feathers and situated in bushes or 
 reeds a few feet above the surface of the water. Clutch, 
 three eggs. 
 
 245. SpHEN^ACtis GEAMiNETJS^ — (Little Grass-Bird). Lo- 
 mlity — Australia and Tasmania. Egg^ — Fleshy- w^hite, freckled 
 and streaked all over, particularly at the larger end, with pur- 
 plish red : in some instances large obscure blotches of reddish 
 grey appear as beneath the surface of the shell. Length, nearly 
 8 lines ; breadth, 6 lines. 
 
 Eamily — Stlyi ADiE . — Reed - W arblers. 
 
 Nests suspended from three reeds or in bushes a few feet from 
 the surface of the water of swamps or rivers, deep and 
 cup-shaped, are composed of dried reeds, &c., lined with 
 grass. Clutch, four eggs. 
 
 246. Calamoheepe austealis — (Reed- Warbler). Locality 
 — Australia, except West and Tasmania. Egg — Greyish white, 
 thickly marked all over with irregular blotches and markings of 
 yellowdsh brown, umber brown, and bluish grey, intermingled 
 together without any appearance of order or arrangement, 
 length, 10 lines ; breadth, 7 lines. 
 
 247. Calamoheepe ( Calamodyta ) longieosteis — ( Long- 
 billed Reed-AVarbler). Locality — West Australia. Egg — Dull 
 greenish white, blotched all over, but particularly at the larger 
 end, with large and small irregularly-shaped patches of olive, 
 some being darker than others, the light-colored ones appearing 
 as if beneath the surface of the shell. Length, 9 lines j breadth, 
 7i lines. 
 
PERCHINa BIRDS. 
 
 27 
 
 Family — Fringillid^. — Finches. 
 
 Nests dome-shaped, bulky, composed of grasses with long spout- 
 like entrances, found in saplings or bushes. Clutch, five or 
 six eggs. Period of incubation, eleven to fifteen days. 
 
 249. ZoNiEGiNTHUS BELLUS — (Fire^tailed Finch), Locality 
 — Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. Egg — Beautiful 
 fleshy- white, and lengthened in form. Length, 8^ lines ; breadth, 
 6^ lines. 
 
 251. Strictoptera bichenovii — (Bicheno’s Finch). Lo- 
 cality — Australia, except West. ^^Egg — Of a uniform soft white 
 color. If the surface of the shell is very closely looked into, like 
 most Finches’ eggs, it will be observed to be very minutely 
 pitted. Length, 7 lines ; breadth, 5 lines. 
 
 253. ^Giis^THA TEMPORALIS — (Red-eye-browed Finch). Zu- 
 cality — Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. 
 Egg — Beautiful fleshy-white. Length, 7 lines; breadth, 5i 
 lines. 
 
 255. Aidemosyne modesta — (Plain-colored Finch). Lo- 
 cality — New South Wales and Victoria. Egg — White. Length, 
 6 lines ; breadth, 4| lines. 
 
 256. Neochmia phaeton — (Crimson Finch). Locality — 
 North Australia. Egg — Pure white ; five in number. 
 
 257. Stagonopleura guttata — (Spotted-sided Finch. Lo- 
 cality — Australia, except North and West. Egg — White, rather 
 long in shape. Length, 9 lines ; breadth, 6 lines. 
 
 258. Ta2NIOptgia castanotis — (Chestnut-eared Finch). Lo- 
 cality — Australia. Egg — Bluish white tinge. Length, 7 
 
 lines ; breadth, 5| lines. 
 
 264. PcEPHiLA CINCTA — (Banded Grrass-Finch). Locality — 
 Queensland. Egg — Uniform pinky-white ; five in number. 
 
 — . Pgephtla atropygialis — (Grass Finch). Locality — 
 North Australia. Egg — Shell white outside, with a faint green- 
 ish tinge inside. Length, 7|^ lines ; breadth, 5| lines. (Ramsay.) 
 
 Family — MERULiDiE. — Thrushes. 
 
 Nests round, open, composed of sticks, leaves, bark, and moss, and 
 
 situated on or near the ground. Clutch, two to four eggs. 
 
 269. Pitta strepitans — (Noisy Pitta). Locality — Queens- 
 land and New South Wales. Egg — Pale creamy- white, marked 
 all over with irregularly-shaped blotches of brown and deep 
 vinous grey, the latter appearing as if beneath the surface of 
 the shell. Length, 1 inch 3 lines ; breadth, lOf lines. 
 
 — . Pitta mackloti— (Macklot’s Pitta). Locality— 
 Australia and Jslew Guinea. Egg — Creamy white, covered all 
 
 E 
 
28 
 
 OOLOOY OF AUSTKALIAN BTEDS. 
 
 over with small speckles and streaks of a purplish hue, many of 
 which are much paler than others, and appear as if beneath the 
 surface of the shell. In some specimens these markings are less 
 numerous, hut in all instances are alike in character. The eggs 
 appear to vary in size, even in the same nest, some being one 
 inch by while others measure by inches. 
 
 27 L. CiNCLOSOMA PUivcTATUM — (Spotted Ground-Thrush). 
 Locality — Australia, except North and West, and Tasmania. 
 Lgg — Ground- color white, blotched with large marks of olive- 
 brown, particularly at the larger end, some of the spots appear- 
 ing as if on the inner surface of the shell. Length, 1 inch 4 
 lines ; breadth, 11 lines. 
 
 272. CiNCLOSOMA CASTANEONOTUM — (Chestnut-backed Ground 
 Thrush). Locality — New South Wales, Victoria, South and West 
 Australia. JEgg — Description assimilates very closely to that of 
 the Spotted Ground-Thrush. Length, 1 inch 3 lines ; breadth, 
 10 lines. 
 
 275. Oreocincla LUNULATA — (M ountain Thrush). Locality 
 — Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. Egg 
 — Ground color, light delicate green, washed and blotched at 
 over with pinkish red or brown ; these markings are somewhat 
 thicker about the larger end. Length, 1 inch 3|- lines ; breadth, 
 lOf lines. 
 
 My little experience in Tasmania taught me that some of the 
 birds there which are also common to Australia are larger in 
 Tasmania, particularly the Mountain Thrush. The latter’s eggs 
 also gave greater dimensions, viz.: — 1 inch 4i lines ; by Hi lines. 
 
 The Mountain Thrush is one of our earliest breeders. Nests 
 with eggs have been taken in Tasmania in July when snow has 
 covered the ground. I have also taken them during the same 
 month in the coast ti-tree scrub, near Mordialloc. The nests are 
 usuall}" situated in forks or limbs of low trees, and are constructed 
 principally of green moss, dried leaves, grass, &c., matted together 
 with dirt and sand, and securely lined with a thick ply of grass, 
 although no i\ustralian bird of this Order resorts to, adds, or 
 rebuilds its old nests year after year. I was led to believe this 
 bird was an exception, my attention being attracted by the 
 immense size and decayed old appearance of the foundation of 
 some of the nests : some would measure nearly a square foot, 
 while the cup of the nest was only 6 or 7 inches in diameter by 
 3 inches deep. My surmise proved correct, because I took two 
 eggs from a certain nest and carefully marked the locality. On 
 returning early the following season I took another pair. 
 
PERCHINa BIRDS. 
 
 29 
 
 Family — Paradiseid.®: (?) — Bower-birds. 
 
 Nests — Not the bowers, as was supposed, but open structures of 
 twigs, lined with grass and leaves, and placed in bushes on 
 low trees. Clutch, two or three eggs. 
 
 276. Ptilonorhynchus holosericeus — (Satin Bower-bird). 
 Locality — Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. * * Egg 
 — Well shaped, and its character of markings may be easily 
 imagined, and it is very similar to the well-known egg of Mimeta 
 viverdis (New South Wales Oriole), only proportionately larger. 
 The ground-color varies from a rich cream to a dirty yellowish 
 color, irregularly spotted and blotched with umber and reddish 
 brown, also a few purplish grey markings appear as if beneath 
 the surface of the shell. In some specimens the blotches are 
 very bold and the markings under the surface of a bluish-black 
 shade. Length, 1 inch lines ; breadth, 1 inch lines. 
 
 On the 23rd of November my young friend Mr. Lindsay 
 Clark found, near the Bass Biver, Western Port, a nest of this 
 extraordinary bower-building bird containing a clutch of two 
 fresh eggs. He described the nest as being placed about 12 
 feet from the ground in a scrubby bush. The nest was loosely 
 constructed of twigs, &c., and lined with leaves, and, on being 
 removed from its position, fell to pieces. 
 
 About the middle of October, 1876, Mr. A. E. Cox, of 
 Sydney, also found, at Mittagong,. New South Wales, a nest 
 placed on the top of a ti-tree stump, with two eggs, but in this 
 case they were nearly hatched. 
 
 278. Ailur^dus smithii — (Cat-bird). Locality — Queens- 
 land and New South Wales. Egg — Comparatively small for 
 the size of the bird. The ground-color is of a delicate bluish 
 green, sprinkled all over with light reddish brown dots and 
 spots, larger and more crowded on the thicker end, and with 
 also a few irregular lineal scratchy markings or hair lines. 
 Length, 1 inch lines ; breadth, 10 J lines. (Ramsay). 
 
 279. Chlamydodera maculata — (Spotted Bower - bird). 
 
 Locality — Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and interior 
 of South Australia. Egy — Very beautiful and most singular 
 
 in appearance, like a fine piece of porcelain with hand-painted 
 markings. The egg is nicely proportioned, although inclined to 
 oval in shape. Ground color very light sea-green. There are 
 three distinct characters of markings, firstly light grey blotches 
 that appear on the inner surface of the shell ; secondly, small 
 stripes of light sienna and umber, painted, as if with a camel- 
 hair brush, in every shape and size round and round the shell, 
 principally zig-zagged latitudinally, but very often taking longi- 
 tudinal and other directions, and, lastly, over these markings a 
 few darker and heavier stripes and smudges of umber. Both 
 
30 
 
 OOLOGY OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 ends of the egg are comparatively free from markings. Length, 
 1 inch 7f lines ; breadth, 1 inch 1 line. 
 
 It may not be out of place to mention that I was among the 
 first who discovered the nest and egg of this beautiful Spotted 
 Bower-bird, which was in October, 1877, while searching for 
 specimens along a billabong of the River Darling, about three 
 miles from the township of Wentworth, The nest was about 20 
 feet from the ground, near the top of a sapling in a thick belt 
 of timber. The hen was sitting, and did not fly o:ff until I had 
 climbed within a few feet of her. I did not notice the male 
 bird in the neighborhood. The nest was formed something like 
 the common Butcher-bird^s {Cracticus torquatus), composed of 
 small sticks, and lined with smaller twigs and grass. 
 
 Since then two nests, each containing three eggs, were taken 
 near the same locality. The nests were placed a few feet from 
 the ground in very thick prickly bushes, locally known as Needle- 
 bushes, but botanically as Hahea. I exhibited an egg of this 
 Bower-bird at the Melbourne International Exhibition, 1880-1. 
 
 Fmnily — OBiOLiDiB. — Orioles. 
 
 Nests cup-shaped, composed of bark strongly interwoven, lined 
 with grass and hair or wool, and suspended to pedulant 
 branches. Clutch, three or four eggs. 
 
 283. Mimeta vieidis — (New South Wales Oriole). Lo- 
 cality — Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. JEgg — ■ 
 Ground color varies from a rich cream to a dull white or very 
 light brown, minutely dotted and blotched with umber and 
 blackish brown, and instances with faint lilac spots, which ap- 
 pear beneath the surface, all over in some instances, but gene- 
 rally the spots are more numerous at the larger end, where they 
 form an indistinct band. Length, 1 inch 4 lines ; breadth, 11 
 lines. 
 
 284. Mimeta aefinis. Locality — North Australia and 
 Queensland. Lgg — Beautiful bluish white, sparingly spotted 
 all over with deep umber brown and bluish grey; the latter color 
 appears as if beneath the surface of the shell. Length, 1 inch, 
 3f lines ; breadth, 11 lines. 
 
 Family ? 
 
 Nests basin-shaped, composed of mud and grass, and placed on 
 horizontal limbs. Clutch, five to seven eggs. 
 
 288. CoECOEAx MELAXOEHAMPHUS — ( White - winged Cor- 
 corax). Locality — Australia, except North and West. Fgg — 
 Y^ellowish white, boldly blotched all over with olive and purplish 
 brown, the latter tint appearing as if beneath the surface of the 
 shell. Length, 1^ inches ; breadth, 1 inch 1 line. 
 
PERCHINa BIRDS. 
 
 31 
 
 289. Strutitidea ciis’Erea — (G f-rey Struthidea). Locality — 
 New 8outh Wales, North and South Australia. Egg — Color 
 white, sparingly blotched, principally at the larger end, with 
 reddish brown, purplish grey, and greenish grey, some of the 
 blotches appearing as if they had been laid on with a soft brush. 
 Length, 1 inch 2 lines ; breadth, 10 lines. 
 
 Family — Coryidjd. — Crows. 
 
 Nests composed of large sticks, and usually situated near the tops 
 of the largest trees. Clutch, four eggs. 
 
 290. CoRVUS (Gorone) australis — (White-eyed Crow). Lo- 
 cality — Australia and Tasmania. Egg — Very long form and of 
 a very pale green color, more or less spotted and smudged all 
 over, but principally at the larger end, with umber brown. 
 Length, 1 inch 10 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 3 lines. 
 
 — . CoRYUS {Corone) coronoides — (Hazel-eyed Crow). Lo- 
 cality — Australia and Tasmania. ** Egg — Similar to foregoing, 
 of beautiful pale green, freckled all over with dark olive or 
 umber. Some specimens are heavily blotched with black. 
 Length, 1 inch 9 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 3 lines. 
 
 Some ornithologists believe these crows to be one and the 
 same species. The following is a memorandum I received from 
 Mr. E. P. Pamsay on the subject : — “ Pe Crows, Corvus coron- 
 aidfis has white bases to feathers ; G. Australis^ base of feathers 
 dusky or blackish hrownd' 
 
 Family — Sturnid^. 
 
 Nests congregated on the branches of one tree. They are some- 
 what oval in form, slightly compressed, rounded above and 
 below, deepening to a neck, by the end of which they are 
 suspended ; the entrance is in the widest part ; they are 
 constructed as portions of climbing plants matted and 
 woven together with finer pieces, leaves, and fibrous mate- 
 rial. Clutch, two or three eggs. 
 
 291. CoLORNis MELALLiCA. — (Shining Coloriiis) . Locality — 
 North Australia and New Griiinea. Egg — Bluish grey, speckled 
 with reddish pink, chiefly at the larger end ; some have scarcely 
 any markings, others a few minute dots only. Length, 1 inch; 
 breadth, 9i lines. 
 
 Family — CRATEROPoniDiE ? 
 
 Nests large, dome-shaped, composed of twigs, spouted side- 
 entrance, lined with bark, grasses, &c., situated in saplings 
 or bushes. Clutch, four eggs. 
 
 292. PoMATOSTOMUs TEMPORALIS — ( Temporal Pomator- 
 hinus). Locality — Australia, except West. Egg — Buf£y 
 
32 
 
 OOLOaY OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 brown, clouded witli dark brown and purple, and streaked with 
 hair-like lines of black, which generally have a tendency to run 
 round the egg ; in some instances, however, they take a diagonal 
 direction, and give the surface a marble-like appearance. Length, 
 1 inch 1 line ; breadth, 9 lines. 
 
 293. PoMATOSTOMUS RUBECULus — (Eed-breasted Pomotor- 
 hinus). Locality — JSTorth Australia. * Egg — Clouded with light 
 purplish grey, over which is streaked hair-like lines of dark 
 brown, similar to those on the egg of P. temporalis. Length, 1 
 inch If lines ; breadth, 8f lines. 
 
 29T. PoMATOSTOMUS suPERCiLiosus — ( White eye-browed 
 Pomatorhinus). Locality — Australia. Egg — Very like those of 
 the same genus, the ground color being olive-grey, clouded with 
 purplish brown, and streaked with similar hair-like lines of dark 
 black. Length, Ilf lines; breadth, 8 lines. 
 
 295. PoMATOSTOMUS BUEiCEPS — (Chestnut-crowued Poma- 
 torhinus). Locality — New South Wales, Victoria, and South 
 Australia. Egg — Ground color of a very faint tinge of green ; 
 the blackest hair-lines are finer and closer together, nearly 
 obscuring the ground color. Some specimens have a pinkish 
 chocolate tinge. Length, nearly 1 inch ; breadth, 9 lines. 
 (Eamsay). 
 
 Family — Meliphagid^. — H oney-eaters. 
 
 Nests cup-shaped, variously composed of grasses, bark, spiders’ 
 old nests, &c., lined with finer grasses, bark, hair, wool, 
 &c. ; also variously situated, some species in forked 
 branches of trees, some suspended by the rims, others in 
 bushes. Clutch, two to three eggs. 
 
 296. Melioenis ^fOViE-HOLLAiSTDi^ — (New Holland Honey- 
 eater). Locality — Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, 
 South Australia, and Tasmania. Egg — Pale buff, thinly spotted 
 and freckled with deep chestnut-brown, particularly at the 
 larger end, where they do not unfrequently assume the form of 
 a zone. Length, 10 lines ; breadth, 7 lines. 
 
 297. Melioeis^is lois^gieosteis — (L ong-billed Honey-eater). 
 Locality — West Australia. Egg — Ground color delicate bulf, 
 with the larger end clouded with reddish buff, and thickly 
 spotted and blotched with chestnut-brown and chestnut-red 
 arranged in the form of a zone. Length, 9 lines ; breadth, 7 
 lines. 
 
 298. Melioenis seetcea — (White-cheeked Honey-eater). 
 Locality — Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria (?). 
 * * Egg — Of a pinky flesh tint, and of a slightly darker shade at 
 the larger end, where also is a zone of pinkish-red and some- 
 times chestnut-brown spots. Length, 8 lines; breadth, 6f lines. 
 
 299 . Melioenis m ystacalis — ( Moustached Honey-eater) . 
 
 Locality — West Australia. Egg — Dull reddish buff, spotted 
 
PEECHING BIRDS. 
 
 33 
 
 very distinctly with chestnut and reddish brown, interspersed 
 with obscure dashes of purplish grey. Length, 9 lines ; breadth, 
 7 lines. 
 
 300. Lichmera {Phylidonyris) australasiana — (Tasman- 
 
 ian Honey-eater). Locality — Queensland, New South Wales, 
 Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. — Tasmanian 
 
 specimens. — Of a rich flesh color or bulf, being of a darker shade 
 at the upper end, where it is also rather boldly blotched and 
 spotted in the form of a zone, with pinkish-red, umber, and grey, 
 the latter color appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell. 
 Length, 9^ lines ; breadth, 7 lines. 
 
 Specimens taken by myself in Victoria are smaller in size 
 and more beautiful and delicate in character, being of a lovely 
 flesh tint, and zoned at the larger end with spots of dark pink 
 and chestnut, also a few violet-like spots appearing under the 
 surface of the shell. Length, 8f lines ; breadth, lines. 
 
 301. Glyctphila fulvifrons — ( Fulvous-fronted Honey- 
 eater). Locality — Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, 
 South Australia, and Tasmania. Egg — Large for the size of 
 the bird, and is often of a lengthened form ; and sometimes 
 quite white, without the least trace of spots, but they are 
 generally blotched with marks of chestnut-red ; occasionally 
 this color is very faint and spread over the surface of the shell 
 as if stained with it ; in other instances the marks are very bold 
 and decided, forming a strong contrast to the whiteness of the 
 other part of the surface. Length, 10| lines ; breadth, lines. 
 
 302. Gtltciphila albifroi^s — (White-fronted Honey-eater). 
 Locality — New South Wales, Victoria, South and West Aus- 
 tralia. Egg — Grround color delicate buff, clouded with a reddish 
 tint at the larger end, and distinctly spotted with chestnut and 
 purplish grey, thickly disposed at the larger end, but very 
 sparingly over the rest of the surface. Length, 9|^ lines ; breadth, 
 7 lines. 
 
 — . Glyciphila subfasciata — (Dusky Honey-eater). Lo- 
 cality — Queensland. Egg — Pure white, with a few dots of black 
 sprinkled over the larger end. Length, 9 lines ; breadth, 6 
 lines. 
 
 Mr. Eamsay states that this is the only bird of the Aus- 
 tralian Meliphagincc that has been met with which constructs a 
 dome-shaped nest. 
 
 304. Stiumatops ocularis — (Brown Honey-eater). Locality 
 — Queensland and New South Wales. Egg — Varies consider- 
 ably in coloring, some being pure white without a trace of spots 
 or markings, others having a zone round the larger end formed 
 of freckled markings of light reddish-brown ; others, again, are 
 thinly sprinkled with this color over the whole surface. Length, 
 7| lines ; breadth, 6 lines. 
 
 306. Ptilotis lewinii — (Lewin’s Honey-eater). Locality — 
 Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. Egg — Pearly 
 
34 
 
 OOLOaY OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 white, spotted with purplish brown, the spots forming a zone 
 at the larger end. Length, 11|- lines ; breadth, 8 lines. 
 
 307. Ptilotis SONORA — (Singing Honey-eater). Locality — 
 Australia. Egg — Light yellowish buff, thickly freckled with 
 small indistinct reddish-brown marks, or of a nearly uniform 
 fleshy buff without spots or markings, but a deeper tint at the 
 larger end. Length, 11 lines ; breadth, 8 lines. 
 
 310. Ptilotis tlayigula {flavicollis) . — (Yellow -throated 
 Honey-eater). Locality — New South Wales, Victoria, South 
 Australia, ' and Tasmania. Egg — Most delicate fleshy buff, 
 rather strongly but thinly spotted with small, roundish, pro- 
 minent dots of chestnut, intermingled with which are a few 
 indistinct dots of purplish grey. Length, 11 lines; breadth, 8i 
 lines. 
 
 311. Ptilotis leucotis- — (W^hite-eared Honey-eater). Lo- 
 cality — Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South and 
 West Australia. ^ ^ Egg — Almost white, or of a uniform deli- 
 cate fleshy tint, with a few indistinct markings of pinkish red 
 at the larger end ; but sometimes the markings, although few, 
 are pronounced, and not altogether confined to the larger end. 
 Length, lOJ lines; breadth, 7f lines. 
 
 The nest is generally placed in thick scrub near the ground. 
 It is deep and cup-shaped, and composed of a mixture of bark, 
 grass, and spiders’ old nests. The inside is lined with a thick 
 w^arm layer of cow-hair wonderfully woven together. No doubt 
 before cattle were introduced to Australia, this beautiful Honey- 
 eater used for the lining the hair or fur of the Kangaroo and 
 other indigenous animals. 
 
 I have observed the birds plucking the hair off while perched 
 on the backs of cattle ; and a rather difficult task it sometimes 
 is for the bird to effect lodgment, especially if a selected cow be 
 not in a very amicable mood, when she tosses her head angrily 
 and continually switches her tail from flank to flank while the 
 bird flutters over. It is highly amusing to see it dodge the 
 action of the long appendage of the animal, and between each 
 lash pluck a few hairs till a mouthful is procured, then fly to its 
 nest. 
 
 312. Ptilotis auricomis — (Yellow -tufted Honey- eater ) . 
 Locality — Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. Egg 
 — Pale flesh-tint, darkest at larger end, where they are also 
 spotted and blotched with markings of a much deeper hue, 
 inclining to salmon color ; in some these markings form a zone, 
 in others one irregular patch, with a few dots over the rest of 
 the surface. Length, 10 lines ; breadth, 8 lines. 
 
 314. Ptilotis ornata — (Graceful Ptilotis). Locality — 
 Victoria, South and West Australia. Egg — Deep salmon color,, 
 becoming paler at the smaller end, and minutely freckled with 
 reddish-brown, particularly at the larger end. Length, 9| lines ; 
 breadth, 7 lines. 
 
PERCHlNa BIRDS. 
 
 35 
 
 315, Pttlotis plumula — (Plumed Ptilotis). Locality — 
 Soutli and West Australia. Egg — Pale salmon color, with a 
 zone of a deeper tint at the larger end, and the whole freckled 
 with minute spots of a still darker hue. Length, 10 lines ; 
 breadth, 7 lines. 
 
 318. Ptilotis penicillata — (White-plumed Honey-eater). 
 Locality — Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia. 
 
 Lengthened in form. Grround color light buff or pink- 
 ish, sparingly marked with distinct round spots of reddish- 
 brown and chestnut, with a few^ purplish grey spots appearing 
 under the surface of the shell, all the markings more inclined 
 to congregate towards the larger end. Length, 10 lines ; breadth, 
 
 7 lines. 
 
 319. Ptilotis eusca — (Fuscous Honey-eater). Locality — 
 Queensland, New South AV ales, and A^ictoria. * Egg — Of a 
 beautiful rich salmon color, with a few streaky markings, more 
 particularly on the apex, of pinkish-brown or chestnut. Length, 
 9 lines ; breadth, 6^ lines. 
 
 320. Ptilotis chrysops — -(Yellowy-faced Honey-eater). Lo- 
 cality — Queensland, New South Wales, and A^ictoria. Egg — 
 Lengthened in form and of a deep reddish buff, strongly marked 
 at the larger end wdth deep chestnut-red and purplish grey ; 
 the remainder of the surface ornamented with large spots and 
 blotches of the same color somewhat thinly dispersed. Length, 
 ] Oj lines ; breadth, 7 lines. 
 
 323. Plectorhtncha lanceolata — (Lanceolated Honey- 
 eater). Locality — Queensland, New^ South \Yales, Victoria, and 
 South Australia. Egg — Lengthened in form and of a fleshy 
 white, very minutely sprinkled with reddish buff, forming an 
 indistinct zone at the larger end. Length, 11^ lines ; breadth, 
 
 8 lines. 
 
 324. Meliphaoa phrtoia — (AVarty-faced Honey-eater). 
 Locality — Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. Egg — 
 Deep yellowish buff, marked all over with indistinct spots and 
 irregular blotches of chestnut red and dull purplish grey, par- 
 ticularly at the larger end, where they frequently form a zone. 
 Length, 11 lines ; breadth, 8^ lines. 
 
 325. Lichivotei^tha {CertJiionyx) picata {leucomelas) — (Pied 
 Honey-eater). Locality — New South Wales, Victoria, and South 
 and AYest Australia. Egg — Of a beautiful pale greenish blue, 
 with rich reddish dots, which cluster and form irregular patches 
 towards the thicker end, but do not form a zone. Length, 9f 
 lines ; breadth, lines. (Ramsay.) 
 
 327. CoNOPOPHiLA ALBoauLARis — ( Whitc-throatcd Hoiicy- 
 eater. Locality — North Australia. Egg — Rather lengthened 
 in form, and not very unlike that of the Malurus cyaneus in 
 the color and disposition of markings ; ground color being white, 
 
 E 
 
36 
 
 OOLOGY OF AUSTEALIAN BIKDS. 
 
 thinly freckled all over with bright chestnut -red, particularly 
 at the larger end. Length, 9 lines ; breadth, 6 lines. 
 
 828. Cois^opoPHiLA RuroGULAEis — (Red-throated Honey- 
 eater). Locality — North Australia, Lgg — Pearly white, rather 
 thickly spotted with bright reddish brown. Length, lines; 
 breadth, 5|- lines. (Ramsay). 
 
 329. Acanthogents eueogularis — (S piny-cheeked Honey- 
 eater). Locality — New South Wales, Victoria, South and West 
 Australia. L]gg — Hull olive buff, sparingly but strongly dotted 
 with umber or chestnut-brown' and bluish grey, the markings 
 being most numerous at the larger end. Length 1 inch 
 lines ; breadth 9 lines (large). Length 11 J lines ; breadth 8i 
 lines (small). 
 
 330. Anthocha:ba ustaijeis — (W attled Honey-eater). Lo- 
 cality — Tasmania. Egg — Pale salmon-color, sprinkled all over, 
 but particularly at the larger end, with small specks and blotches 
 of yellowish red, and here and there with grey. Length, 1 inch 
 5 lines ; breadth, 11|^ lines. The egg is very much like that 
 of A. carunculata, but is more thickly blotched with yellowish 
 red. 
 
 331. Ai^thochaiea caeunctjlata — ('W attled Honey-eater). 
 Locality — Queesnsland, New South Wales, Victoria, South and 
 W est Australia. Egg — Grround color reddish buff, very thickly 
 dotted with distinct markings of deep chestnut, umber, and 
 reddish brown, interspersed with a number of indistinct marks 
 of blackish grey, which appear as if beneath the surface of the 
 shell. Length, 1 inch 3 lines; breadth, lOi lines. 
 
 Eggs taken in New South Wales are somewhat larger than 
 those from Western Australia, and have markings of a blotched 
 rather than of a dotted form, and principally at the larger end. 
 
 332. Anellobia melltyoea — (B rush Wattle Bird). Lo- 
 cality — Australia, except North and West, and Tasmania. Egg 
 — Beautiful salmon color, strongly blotched at the larger end, 
 and here and there over the remainder of the surface with deep 
 chestnut-brown. Length, 1 ijich 1 line ; breadth, 9 lines. 
 
 333. Aneulobia ltoulata — (L unulated Wattle Bird). Zo- 
 — West Australia. Egg — Ground color a full reddish 
 
 buff, thinly spotted and marked with deep chestnut-brown and 
 chestnut-red, some of the spots and markings appearing as if 
 beneath the surface of the shell, and being most thickly dis- 
 posed near the larger end. Length, 1 inch 2 lines ; breadth, 91^ 
 lines. 
 
 334. Teopidoeiiynciius coentculatus — (F riar Bird). Lo- 
 cality — Queensland, New South Wales, and Y'ictoria. Egg — 
 Pale salmon color, with minute spots of a darker tint, principally 
 about the larger end. Length, 1 inch 3 lines ; breadth, 10| lines, 
 
 335. Thopidokuynchus buceeotdes — (H ehneted Friar- 
 Bird). Locality — North Australra. Egg — Very much like 
 
PERCniNG BIRDS. 
 
 37 
 
 that of the egg of its more southern representative {T. corni- 
 culatus), oiiiy i^ shape a little more swollen about the centre. 
 Q-round color of a pale or sickly salmon color, with a few in- 
 distinct cloudy markings of dull chestnut and purplish grey: 
 the majority of these markings are upon the apex. Length, 
 1 inch lines ; breadth, lOf lines. 
 
 337. TROPiDORnrivcHUs {Philemon) citreogularis — (Yel- 
 
 low-throated Friar Bird). Locality — Australia, except South 
 and West. — Easily distinguished from any of the other 
 
 Honey-eaters’' eggs. Grround color is of a uniform deep rich 
 purplish flesh color or purplish buff, smudged over with blotches 
 and patches of pinkish red and greyish-purple, the latter ap- 
 pearing as if on the inner surface of the shell. Over these 
 markings and about the top end are a few blotches of umber of 
 different shades. Length, 1 inch 1 line; breadth, 9 lines. 
 
 338. Trtpodorhtnchus ( Philemon) sordidtjs — ( Sordid 
 Friar- Bird). Locality — JN'orth Australia. Egg — Of a rich 
 salmon red, spotted with a darker tint, some of the spots fleecy, 
 confluent, and distributed alike all over the surface of the shell, 
 rather closer near the thicker end but not forming a zone there. 
 Length, 1 inch ; breadth, 9 lines. (Eamsay). 
 
 339. AcANTHORHTiNrcHUs TEioJiROSTRis —(Spine-bill). Lo- 
 cality — Queensland, New South Wales, Tictoria, South Aus- 
 tralia, and Tasmania. Egg — Lengthened and pointed in form- 
 and of a delicate buffy white, increasing in depth of color 
 towards the larger end ; in some instances marked with a zone 
 of reddish chestnut spots shaded with indistinct markings of 
 grey, intermingled with very minute ink-like dots. Length, 9 
 lines ; breadth, 6 lines. 
 
 340. AcANTHORRYisrcHUs siJPERCiLTOSus — ( White-eyebrowed 
 Spine-bill). Locality — West Australia. Egg — Grround color; 
 in some instances is a delicate buff, in others a very delicate 
 bluish white, with a few specks of reddish-brown distributed 
 over the surface, these specks being most numerous at the larger 
 end, where they frequently assume the form of a zone. Length, 
 9 lines ; breadth, 6^ lines. 
 
 341. Myzomela SAi^GuiNQLENTO — (Sanguineous Honey- 
 eater). Locality — Australia except North and West. ^"^Egg— 
 Grround color pearly white, speckled, more particularly at the 
 larger end, with reddish chestnut and a few spots of bluish grey 
 appearing under the surface of the shell. Length, 74 lines ; 
 breadth, 5f lines. 
 
 344. Myzomela {Gassomelas) nigra — (Black Honey-eater). 
 Locality — Australia. Egg — Light brownish buff, encircled at 
 the centre with a band of brown, produced by numerous small 
 blotches of that color, which appear as if beneath the surface of 
 the shell. Length, 7 lines ; breadth, 54 lines. 
 
38 
 
 OOLOGY OP AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 346. Entomtza cyanotis — (Blue-faced Honey -eater). Lo- 
 cality — Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. Egg — 
 Of a rich salmon color, irregularly spotted with rust-brown. 
 Length, 1 inch 3 or 4 lines ; breadth, 11 lines. 
 
 I can bear testimony to the curious fact respecting the 
 nidification of this bird mentioned by Mr. Gould, namely, that 
 of constructing its nest in the deserted large dome-shaped nest 
 of the Eomatostomus temporalis. In the beginning of September 
 1881, in the Sandhurst district, I took two fresh eggs from the 
 nest of the' Honey-eater, which was made of stringy bark and 
 grass, and placed in a depression on the top of an old nest of the 
 Eomatostomus. 
 
 347. Melitheeptbs yalidieosteis — (Strong-billed Honey- 
 eater). Locality — Tasmania. Egg — Ground-color of a lovely 
 pinkish tinge or flesh color, sparingly spotted and blotched, 
 especially about the larger end, with pinkish brown and greyish 
 purple, the latter appearing as if under the surface of the shell. 
 Length, lOi lines ; breadth, 7i lines. 
 
 I have described this egg from my own specimens, as I failed 
 to reconcile Mr. Gould’s description with them. 
 
 348. Melitheeptus gulaeis— (Black-throated Honey-eater)* 
 Locality — Australia, except North and West. "^^Egg — Of a 
 pale flesh color, sparingly speckled with spots of chestnut, which 
 are inclined to form a cloud at the larger end, and where also 
 appear a few purplish spots under the surface of the shell. 
 Length, 9 lines ; breadth, 6^ lines. 
 
 349. Melitheeptus lunulatus — (Lunulated Honey -.eater). 
 Locality — Australia, except North and West. Egg — Pale bufi, 
 dotted all over, but particularly at the larger end, with distinct 
 markings of rich reddish brown and chestnut red, among which 
 are a few clouded markings of bluish grey. Length, 9 lines ; 
 breadth, 6 1 lines. 
 
 — . Melitheeptus beeyieosteis — (Browm-headed Honey- 
 eater). Jjocality — Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. 
 * * Egg — Deep flesh color or pinkish buff, wdiich is of a darker 
 shade at the larger end, where it is also sparii^gly spotted or 
 splashed with reddish chestnut in the form of a zone, also a few 
 specks appear here and there over the shell. Length, 8^ lines ; 
 breadth, 7 lines. 
 
 Hitherto our leading ornithologists did not include Victoria 
 as a habitat of this Honey-eater. In 1880 I noticed it rather 
 abundant in some parts of the Sandhurst district, and in the 
 following year specimens w^ere placed in the Melbourne Museum ; 
 since, I have noticed them in various parts of the colony. I 
 succeeded in obtaining its nest. It contained two eggs, and was 
 suspended to the extreme end of a swaying branch of a box tree 
 {Eucalyptus viminalis). The nest was composed of grass thickly 
 woven in and out with wool and hair, which I have seen the bird 
 pull out of the live animals. On one occasion a party of us 
 
PERCIIINa BIRDS. 
 
 39 
 
 were out, and were attracted by the lively actions of this curi- 
 ous little lloiiey-eater on the back of a Native Bear {Koala) 
 that had taken up its position in the fork of a tolerably high 
 gum. The bird was clinging on in a very comical manner, and 
 busily plucking the fur oif. Wishing to rob the animal of its 
 furry coat we fired a shot, and, although we hit, did not dislodge 
 the bear; the shot merely frightened our feathered friend on to 
 a neighbouring branch, and before we were re-loaded it had 
 commenced operations on the back of the bear again. 
 
 350. Melithiieptus chloropsis — (SwanEiver Honey-eater). 
 Locality — West Australia. -Deep reddish buff, thinly 
 
 spotted all over, but particularly at the larger end, with dark 
 reddish brown, some of the spots being indistinct, while others 
 were very conspicuous. Length, 9^ lines ; breadth, 6^ lines. 
 
 353. Mtzantha garrula — (G-arrulous Honey-eater). Lo- 
 cality — Australia, except North and West, and Tasmania. Egg 
 — Bluish white, marked all over with reddish brown, without 
 any indication of the zone at the larger end so frequently 
 observable in the eggs of the other species. Length, 1 inch 
 1 line ; breadth, 9| lines. 
 
 354. Myzantha OBSCURA — ('Sombre Honey -eater). Locality 
 — South and West Australia. Egg — Eicb orange buff, obscurely 
 spotted and blotched with a deeper tint, particularly at the larger 
 end. Length, 11| lines ; breadth, 9 lines. 
 
 356. Mtzajsttha flavigula — (Yellow-throated Miner). Lo- 
 cality — New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. 
 ** Egg — Ground color of a deep rich pinkish-buff or salmon 
 color, minutely freckled and clouded all over with pinkish red, 
 chestnut, and purplish spots, these markings being more thickly 
 disposed about the larger end. The purplish markings appear 
 as if under the surface of the shell. Length, 12^ lines ; breadth, 
 9 lines. 
 
 357. Manorhina melanophrts — (Bell-bird). Locality — 
 
 Queensland, New South W ales, and Victoria. Egg — Beautiful 
 
 rich flesh color, sparingly smudged and spotted with rich chest- 
 nut and reddish brown, a few purplish brown markings appear- 
 ing as if under the shell’s surface. Length, 10| lines ; breadth, 
 7 lines. 
 
 Bell-birds are very plentiful along the north shore of Lake 
 King, Gippsland, especially on the slopes of the dark gullies 
 running up from the lake. There they appear to breed very 
 early. In the middle of October I found all the season’s birds 
 fully grown and flying about with their respective parents. I 
 could not find a single nest with eggs, although I found great 
 numbers of old nests, sometimes two or more in a bush. Any 
 site seems to be chosen for the nest, from scrub and bushes 
 twelve feet high down to the common bracken fern. Some of 
 the nests are crudest and simplest of all the Honey-eaters T know. 
 
40 
 
 OOLOGY OF AUSTEALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 being simply constructed of just sufficient grass to ensure the 
 safety of the eggs, and suspended by the rim to some convenient 
 twigs. They are sometimes patched and interwoven with bits of 
 moss and lichen. 
 
 Family — Promeropida:. — Sun-birds, &c. 
 
 Nests pensile, side entrance, and suspended to branches of 
 foliage. They are composed of cotton-like substance, 
 bark, and various fibrous material. 
 
 358. Dicaium HiRUNmNACEUM — (Swallow 
 
 Dicseum). Locality — Australia and New Guinea. Egg — Ground 
 color dull white, with very minute spots of browm scattered over 
 the surface. Length, 9 lines ' breadth, lines. 
 
 From two different parts of Queensland I received au- 
 thenticated eggs of this species. In both cases they were of a 
 uniform dull chalky white, and not in any way marked as 
 mentioned by Gould. 
 
 359. Nectari]S^la {Grytostomus) australis — (Australian 
 Sun-bird), Locality — North Australia and New Guinea. Egg 
 — Pear-shaped, generally and equally mottled with obscure dirty 
 brown on a greenish-grey ground. Length, about 9 lines ; 
 breadth, 6 lines. 
 
 Family ? — Zosterops. 
 
 ’ Nests round, deep, cup-shaped, composed of grasses, moss, wool, 
 neatly lined with fibrous roots and grasses, and generally 
 suspended in branches of bushes or trees. Clutch, three 
 eggs. 
 
 It is remarkable that some of our authorities have not created 
 a distinct family name for the genus Zosterops. Six species of 
 these interesting little birds are known to inhabit Australia, and 
 others the Islands of the Western Pacific. The British Museum 
 and others have placed them a sub-family to the Meliphagidcc or 
 Honey-eaters, the eggs of which are invariably pinkish or salmon- 
 colored and spotted, whereas the Zosterops are of a uniform blue. 
 
 360. Zosterops ccerulescens — (Grey-backed Zosterops). 
 Locality — Australia, except North and West, and Tasmania. 
 Egg — Beautiful uniform pale blue. Length, lines ; breadth, 
 6 lines. 
 
 361. Zosterops gouldi — (Green-backed Zosterops). Lo- 
 cality — West Australia. Egg — Greenish blue without spots or 
 markings. Lengtii, 8 lines ; breadth, 6 lines. 
 
PEECIIING BIRDS. 
 
 41 
 
 Family — CERTiiiADi® — Creepers, &c. 
 
 Nests — Climacteres, composed of soft grass, fur, and feathers, and 
 placed far down hollow branches or stumps. Clutch, three 
 eggs. Sittellw — Cup-shaped, composed of downy sub- 
 stances. On the outside is worked on, by cobwebs and 
 other sticky matter, small pieces of bark like so many 
 scabs. These so closely assimilate to the bark of the up- 
 right dead limb on which the nest is generally situated 
 as to render its detection extremely difficult. Clutch, 
 three eggs. 
 
 366. Climacteris scandens — (Brown Tree-creeper). Lo- 
 cality — Australia, except North and West. Fgg — Reddish flesh- 
 color, thickly blotched all over with reddish brown. Length, 
 lOi lines ; breadth, lines. 
 
 367. Climacteris rufa — (Rufous Tree-creeper). Locality 
 
 — West Australia. Egg — Pale salmon color, thickly blotched 
 
 all over with reddish brown. Length, 11 lines ; breadth, 
 lines. 
 
 371. Climacteris leucopikea — ( White-throated Tree-creeper)- 
 Locality — Australia, except North and West. Egg — Dull white, 
 thinly speckled with fine spots of rich brown, and a few larger 
 blotches of the same color. Length, 10 lines ; breadth, 8 lines. 
 
 372. Orthonyx spinicaudus — (Spine-tailed Orthonyx). Lo- 
 cality — Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia. 
 Egg — White and disproportionately large. 
 
 373. SiTTELLA CHRYSOPTERA — (Orange- winged Sittella). Lo- 
 cality — Australia, except North and West. Egg — Smooth 
 
 shell and bluish white ground color, mottled all over wuth slate 
 colored spots and blotches of different shades. Length, 8 lines ; 
 breadth, 6|^ lines. 
 
 376. Sittella pileata — (Black-capped Sittella). Locality 
 — New South Wales, Victoria, South and West Australia. Egg 
 — Whitish color, with circular green spots irregularly distributed 
 over the whole surface. 
 
 Family — Cuculid^. — Cuckoos. 
 
 378. Cacomantis pallidus — (Pallid Cuckoo). Locality— 
 Australia and Tasmania. ^Egg — Of a uniform pale flesh color, 
 with a darker wash of the same tint at the larger end ; some- 
 times a few chestnut spots appear here and there over the shell. 
 Length, 11 to 12 lines ; breadth, 8 to 9 lines. 
 
 I am sorry Mr. Gould’s description is hardly accurate. 
 Therefore I have adopted my own. He also mentioned that 
 among the foster-parents of this Cuckoo are the various Maluri 
 and Acanthizcc. The egg is never found in these dome-shaped 
 
42 
 
 OOLOGY OF AUSTRALIAN EIRDS. 
 
 nests, but in open cup-shaped ones, generally of the Koney- 
 eaters. I have taken them in that oi Ptilotis penicillata (White- 
 plumed Honey-eater), and on one occasion in that of Mimeta 
 viridis (Oriole). They have also been found in the 3Ielifhrepti 
 and other Ptilotes, Anellohia mellivora (Brush Wattle-bird), 
 Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris (Spine-bill), Myzantha gorrula 
 (Garrulous Honey-eater), and sometimes in Tasmania, in the 
 nest of Amaurodryas vittata (Dusky B/obin). 
 
 879. Cacomantis {Ololygon) flabelliformis (Fan-tailed Cuc- 
 koo). Locality — Australia and Tasmania. Egg — Inclined to 
 oval in form, of a fleshy white sprinkled all over with fine pink- 
 ish red spots, which are blended about the upper quarter so as 
 to form a narrow belt or zone. These markings by age become 
 purplish brown. Length, 10^ lines; breadth, 7J lines. 
 
 It is not on record that an egg of this Cuckoo has been taken 
 in Australia, or which are its foster parents, Mr. Gould has 
 mentioned one of the Honey-eaters, but I think that can be 
 proved to be an error. In Tasmania its foster parents are 
 generally Acanthiza Eiemenensis (Tasmanian Acanthiza), but 
 sometimes Malurus longicaudus Warbler) and Sericornis 
 
 himulis (Sombre Sericornis). An interesting question here 
 crops up — How can this Cuckoo, a bird about 9 inches long, 
 including a tail 5 inches, enter or place its eggs in the small 
 dome-shaped nest of the Acanthiza, which structure over all is 
 not more than 4 inches in diameter, with a small side entrance 
 that will hardly admit of one’s finger ? 
 
 It is impossible for the Cuckoo to enter the nest, and nests 
 taken containing its egg have been carefully observed, and the 
 entrance was in no case enlarged. 
 
 Therefore, after giving this matter mature consideration 
 I have come to the conclusion that the Cuckoo must lay its egg 
 in some convenient spot, then transfer and deposit it in the 
 Acanthiza’s nest with its bill. 
 
 And in proof of this assertion I quote the following notes 
 from the diary of my friend Mr. (now Bev.) H. T. Hull: — 
 
 “ 6th Oct., 1877. — Found nest of Acanthiza Eiemenensis with 
 egg of Cuculus cinereus (now called Cacomantis Jlahelliformis). 
 The three eggs of the Acanthiza were all dented as if the larger 
 eggs had been roughly deposited on the top of them.” 
 
 ‘‘ 15th. Nov., 1879. — Found nest of Acanthiza Diemenensis^ 
 two eggs broken, with young far advanced, but dead ; fresh egg 
 of Cuckoo {Cinereus)d^ 
 
 Further, my sterling friend Mr, H. A. Smith, of Batesford, 
 informed me that on one occasion he shot a Pallid Cuckoo and 
 actually took its egg from the back of its throat or gape. The 
 egg was fractured by the fall. Evidently the bird had laid the 
 egg and was in the act of conveying it to some suitable nest. 
 In the case of this Cuckoo, too, it would be a difficult task to 
 deposit an egg in a small Honey-eater’s nest were it delivered in 
 
PERCHINa BIEDS. 
 
 43 
 
 the usual manner. I also venture my opinion, with regard to 
 the smaller Bronze Cuckoos, that a similar [)erformance (that of 
 dropping the egg in the nest with the aid of the bill) occurs. It 
 cannot be otherwise, for instance, when deposited in the dome- 
 shaped nest of the little Grerygone with its small side-entrance. 
 
 Since reading the foregoing remarks before the “ Field 
 Naturalists’ Club” I extracted the following from an interesting 
 article, on the architectural tastes of birds, by M. Oustalet of 
 France : — 
 
 “ The cuckoo watches the moment when the mother quits the nest, then 
 laying its egg seizes it by its large mandibles, passes it into its throat with 
 the agility of a conjuror, and flies to deposit it delicately in the stranger’s 
 nest.” 
 
 Therefore it would appear that this proclivity in the European 
 Cuckoo is exhibited in its Australian representatives. 
 
 While in Tasmania, the overseer at “Eidgeside” brought 
 under my notice a nest of the Tasmanian Acanthiza in a gorse 
 hedge from which he had just abstracted the egg of the Fan-tailed 
 Cuckoo. The specimen was lighter speckled than others 1 had 
 seen. The building of the nest had aj)parently just been com- 
 pleted and appropriated first by the Cuckoo. It is strange to 
 say that although the entrance of the nest was enlarged to 
 abstract the Cuckoo’s egg it did not offend the little Acanthiza, 
 because three days afterwards she laid her first egg, and my 
 subsequent visits proved she had completed her complement. 
 
 383. Lampeococcyx (?) plagogus (Jucidus) — (Bronze Cue 
 koo). Locality — Australia, Tasmania, and New Gruinea. Kgg — 
 Clear olive-brown, slightly paler at the smaller end : the olive- 
 brown can be easily removed by wetting, and will reveal a uni- 
 form light bluish shell. Length, 8i lines ; breadth, 6 lines. 
 
 385. Lampeococcyx basalis — (Narrow-billed Bronze Cuc- 
 koo). Locality — Australia, except North-West and Tasmania 
 ^^Egg — Oval and fleshy white, speckled all over with fine pink- 
 ish red spots, which become darker by age. Length, 8J lines ; 
 breadth, 6 lines. 
 
 Mr. Grould remarks: “ I leave to the rising ornithologists of 
 Australia the task of investigating the subject, and of informing 
 the scientific world whether there be any difference in the eggs 
 of the two Bronze Cuckoos.” From the foregoing descriptions 
 it will be noticed there is a decided difference ; the eggs are 
 totally dissimilar except in shape and size. Notwithstanding, 
 the birds bear a great similarity, about the same size and color, 
 only one has a narrower bill and some minor difference on the 
 tail feathers. Now that the eggs are known, it would be of great 
 interest if some oologist could explain the anomaly in their 
 characters ; for experience teaches us that in every genus of 
 birds the true typical egg of each species is not without 
 characteristic resemblance. 
 
 The foster-parents of the Bronze Cuckoos are generally the 
 Malari and Acantliizcc^ but I have taken them from the nest of 
 
 G 
 
44 
 
 OOLOOY OF AUSTEALIAN BIEDS. 
 
 Tetroica multicolor (Scarlet-breasted Robin), and they also have 
 been taken from P. Goodenovii (Red-Capped Robin) and Gery- 
 gone. 
 
 Rarely two species of Cuckoos deposit eggs in the same 
 nest, but tbe following is a curious fact : — I found the nest 
 of Acanthiza (^Geohasileus) chrysorrhcBa containing three eggs, 
 besides an egg each of the two Bronze Cuckoos. We are aware 
 that young Cuckoos have the reputation of ousting their foster 
 brothers and sisters, but if these two lively youngsters had been 
 reared in the same nest we are constrained to imagine that 
 “VVlien Creek met Creek then would come the tug of war.” 
 
 With reference to parasitic Cuckoos ousting the foster 
 chickens — I do not think this applies in all cases, because if we 
 consider the young Pallid and Pan-tailed Cuckoos, their rapid 
 growth in size as compared with the foster chick, the latter 
 would soon be crushed and starved out of existence; moreover 
 the nest could not contain them all. In any case, there appears 
 » an all-wise provision of their Creat Creator for the maintenance 
 of their (the Cuckoo) species, for it may be conceived that it 
 occupies the whole time of a pair of tiny foster-parents to 
 satiate the rapacious maw of their large foster-chick without 
 being encumbered with a brood of their own offspring. 
 
 386. ScTTHEOPS ivoY^-HOLLAEDiA] — (Channel-Bill). Lo- 
 
 cality — Australia, except South and West, and New Guinea. 
 Lgg (taken from the ovarium) — Light stone color, marked all 
 over, but particularly at the larger end, with irregular blotches 
 of reddish brown, many of which were of a darker hue, and 
 appeared as if beneath the surface of the shell. Length 
 inches ; breadth inches. 
 
 388. Cet^teopes (PolopJiilus) phasiaeus — (Pheasant Coucal). 
 Locality — North Australia, Queensland, and New South Wales. 
 A’^r/— Nearly round, and of a dirty white, in some instances 
 stained with brown, and with a rather rough s,urface. Length, 
 1 inch 4 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 2 lines. 
 
 The members of this genus are the only Australian Cuckoos 
 which are not parasitic in their habits. 
 
 Before leaving the family Guculidce I shall conclude a few 
 remarks. Some authorities place that family at the close of 
 succeeding (third) Order, but I have retained it at the end of 
 the second Order, because its members display more of the 
 qualities of ‘‘ Perching Birds ” than “Climbers.” 
 
 I noticed a pair of eggs in the collections of Lr. Lucas, and 
 share with him in the belief that they are the hitherto unknown 
 eggs of tlie Black-eared Cuckoo {ifcHcalins oficulans^. They 
 
CLIMBERS. 
 
 45 
 
 ipay be compared in size and color to those of the Shining Fly- 
 catcher (Myiagra nitida)^ being of a somewhat dull while with 
 greyish-brown markings above the upper quarter. Dr. Lucas 
 took one in the nest and accompanying the eggs of the White- 
 shafted Fan-tail {Rhipidura alhiscapa), some ten miles from 
 Melbourne : the other was taken in a Eobin’s nest in the North- 
 eastern district. 
 
 Dr. Lucas also showed me several eggs of the Fan-tail Cuckoo 
 that were taken this season from Acanthizas’ nests in Victoria. 
 Lately I have observed an unusual number of Cuckoos flying 
 about Melbourne and the suburbs. That extra numbers, as well 
 as other birds,, are driven towards the sea-board may be at- 
 tributed to the lengthened drought now existing in the Interior 
 and Queensland. 
 
 OR DEB J/7— SC ANSOEES- Climbers. 
 
 . In the Southern part of Australia, including Tasmania, the 
 incubating monllis are generally October, November, and De- 
 cember. 
 
 Family — Cacatuidje. — Cockatoos. 
 
 Nests in hollow trees, or crevices of clifls or rocks. Clutch, two 
 to four eggs. Period of incubation, about three weeks. 
 
 391. Cacatua galerita — Great Sulphur-crested Cockatoo)- 
 
 Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. Egg — Pure 
 white, oval, somewhat pointed at the smaller end. Length, 1 
 inch 7 lines ; breadth, I inch lines. 
 
 392, Cacatua {LopJiochroa) leabbeateri — (Leadbeater’s 
 
 Cockatoo). Locality — New South Wales, Victoria, South and 
 AV est Australia. Egg — Pure >vhite, glossy, inclined to oval. 
 
 Length, 1 inch 6 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 1 line. 
 
 394. CACATUA {Eolophus) ROSEiCAPiLLA — (Eose - breasted 
 Cockatoo). Locality — New South Wales, Victoria, North and 
 South Australia. ^^Egg — White, oval. Length, 1 inch 5 lines ; 
 breadth, I inch. 
 
 395. Licmktis tenuirostris { yiasicus ^ — (Long-billed Cocka- 
 too) Locality — New Soutli Wales, Victoria, and South Aus- 
 tralia. "^^Egg — AVhite, oval, some specimens rather pointed at 
 each end. Length, 1 inch 5 lines ; breadth, 1 inch ^ line. 
 
46 
 
 OOLOaY OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 399. Caltptorhtnchus naso — (Western Black Cockatoo). 
 Locality — West Australia. JEgg — White. Length, 1 inch 8 
 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 4 lines. 
 
 400. Calyptorhyi^ CHITS LEACHii (Solandri) — Leach’s Cocka- 
 too). Locality — Australia, except West. Lgg — White, some- 
 
 what of a dumpy oval in form, and rounded alike at either end. 
 Length, 1 inch 7 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 3 lines. 
 
 401. Calyptorhynchus funereus — (Funeral Cockatoo). 
 Locality — Australia, except North and West. Lgg — White. 
 Length, 1 inch lines ; breadth, 1 inch 4i lines. 
 
 402. Calyptorhynchus xanthonotijs — (Yellow-eared Black 
 Cockatoo). Locality — South Australia (?) and Tasmania. Lgg 
 — White. Shell of somewhat fine texture. Length, 1 inch 8 
 lines ; breadthy 1 inch 4 lines. 
 
 403. Calyptqrhyxchus baudixii — (Baudin’s Cockatoo). 
 Locality — West Australia. Egg — White. Length, 1 inch 9 
 lines f breadth, 1 inch 4i lines. 
 
 404. Mtcrohlossus aterrimum — (Grreat Palm Black Cocka- 
 too). Locality — Cape York and New Gruinea. Egg — White, 
 ])ointed at the thin end, rounded at the thicker end. Length, 
 2 inches *, breadth^ 1 inch 4f lines. (Ramsay). 
 
 Eaonily — Psittacid^. — Parrots. 
 
 Nests^ on the dust and rotten wood in hollow trees, except Pezo- 
 2 )orus and GeopsittacuSy which breed on the ground, and 
 Psepliotas pulchermmuSy of Queensland, which breeds in 
 forsaken ant-hills. Clutch^ two to eight eggs. Period of 
 incubation, from eighteen to twenty-one days. 
 
 406. PoLYTELis RARRABAXDi — ( Barraband’s Parrakeet ). 
 Locality — New South Wales and Victoria. * ^ Egg — White, and 
 not so round as Parrakeets’ generally are, but more the shape of 
 Cockatoos’. Length, 1 inch 2^ lines ; breadth, 11 lines. 
 
 409. Aprosmictijs scapulatus { cyanopygias) — (King 
 Lorv). Locality — Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. 
 * * Egg — Round and white. Length, 1 inch 2 lines ; breadth, 
 1 inch. 
 
 I expected to find this egg larger, but it is described from 
 a thoroughly authenticated specimen received from Mr. C. W. 
 De Vis, of the Queensland Museum. 
 
 410. Ptistes (Aprosmictus) erythropterus — (R ed-winged 
 Lory). Locality — Queensland, Egg — White. Length, 1 inch 
 1^ lines ; breadth, 10^ lines. 
 
 415. Platycercus pexxaxtii — (P ennant’s Parrakeet). Lo- 
 c^ZiYy^New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. Egg 
 — White. Length, 1 inch 2 lines ; breadth, 11^ lines. 
 
CLIMBERS. 
 
 47 
 
 417. Platycercus elayiyentris — (Yellow-bellied Parra- 
 keet). Locality — Tasmania. Egy — Pure white. Length, 1 
 inch 2 lines ; breadth, Hi lines. 
 
 419. Platycercus pallidiceps — (Pale-headed Parrakeet). 
 Locality — Queensland and New South Wales. Egg — Round 
 
 oval, white. Length, 1 inch 1*^116 ; breadth, lOf lines. 
 
 422. Platycercus eximius — (Rose-hill Parrakeet). Lo- 
 cality — Australia, except North and W est, and Tasmania. Egg 
 — Beautiful white. Length, 1 inch li lines ; breadth, 11 lines. 
 
 424. Platycercus icterotis — (Yellow-cheeked Parrakeet). 
 Locality — South (?) and VV est Australia. Egg — White. Length, 
 11 lines ; breadth, 9i lines. 
 
 425. Purpureicephalus pileatus (spurius) — (Red-capped 
 Parrakeet). Locality — West Australia. Egg — Milk-white. 
 Length, 1 inch lines ; breadth, lOj lines. 
 
 431. Psephotus h^matonotus — (Red-rumped Parrakeet). 
 Locality — Australia, except North and West. Egg — White. 
 Length, 11 lines ; breadth, 8i lines. 
 
 The female of this graceful Parrakeet appears solely to per- 
 form the task of incubation. 1 have watched her mate feeding 
 her in or near the nest-hole. He performs the operation, some- 
 thing after the manner of a common pigeon feeding its young, 
 by connecting beaks and discharging at intervals the contents of 
 his crop into her mouth, with spasmodic jerks, while she keeps 
 up a continual or hissing noise. 
 
 482. Euphema chrysostoma ( venusta ) — ( Blue - banded 
 Grass-Parrakeet). Locality — New South Wales, Victoria, South 
 Australia, and Tasmania. Egg — Round, white. Length, 10 
 
 lines ; breadth, 8f lines. 
 
 433. Euphema elegans — (Elegant Grass-Parrakeet). Lo- 
 cality — Australia, except North. Egg — Pure white. Length, 
 10 lines ; breadth, 8i lines. 
 
 434. Euphema aurantia {chrysog aster) — (Orange -bellied 
 
 Grass- Parrakeet). Locality — New South Wales, Victoria, South 
 Australia, and Tasmania. Egg — White; texture of shell 
 
 very fine. Length, lOf lines ; breadth, 9 lines. 
 
 486. Euphema pulchella — (Chestnut-shouldered Grass- 
 Parrakeet). Locality — Australia, except North and West. 
 
 Egg — White. Length, 11 lines ; breadth, 9 lines. 
 
 438. Euphema bourkii — (Bourke’s Grass-Par rakeet). Lo- 
 cality — New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. Egg 
 — Roundish, and similar to the foregoing species. In common 
 with the other members of the same genus, the male assists in 
 the task of incubation. 
 
 489. Melopsittacus uxhulatus — (Warbling Grass-Parra- 
 keet). Locality — New South Wales, Victoria, South and West 
 Australia. Egg — Pure white. Length, Si lines; breadth, 6f 
 lines. 
 
48 
 
 OOLOGY OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 440. Galops iTTACUs not^-hollandia: — (Cockatoo-Parra- 
 keet). Locality — Auistralia. Egg — Chalky white. Length, 12 
 lines ; breadth, 9 lines. 
 
 443. Lathamus DISCOLOR — (Swift Lorikeet). Lo- 
 
 cality — Australia, except North and West, and Tasmania. 
 * ^ Egg — White. Length, 11^ lines ; breadth, 10 lines. 
 
 444. Trichoolossus multicolor {Novce- Hollandicd ) — • 
 (Blue- bellied Lorikeet). Locality — Australia and Tasmania. 
 ^^Egg — Poundish-ov^al, white. Length, 13|^ lines ; breadth, 
 10| lines. 
 
 448. Gtlossopsitta AUSTRALIS {concinnus) — (Musk -Lori- 
 keet). Locality — Australia, except \Yest and Tasmania. Egg 
 — Dirty white, round in form, and somewhat coarse shell. 
 Length, Ilf lines ; breadth, 9 lines. (Gould, 1 x f inches.) 
 
 450. Glossopsitta pusilla — (Little Lorikeet). Locality 
 — Australia, except West, and Tasmania. Egg — iiound-oval, 
 white. Length, 9f lines ; breadth, 7f lines. 
 
 ORDER JF— COLUMB^ — Pioeons. 
 
 Incubating months, from July to February, but generally in 
 the Spring. 
 
 Family — Columbida:. — Pigeons and Doves. 
 
 Nests — Slight structures of twigs placed on horizontal branches of 
 trees or bushes, except genus Geophaps^ which breeds on 
 the bare ground. 
 
 453. Lamprotreron superbus — (Superb Fruit Pigeon). 
 Locality — North Australia and New Guinea. Egg — White- 
 oval, slightly swollen in the centre. Length, 1 inch lines ; 
 breadth, lOf lines. (Bainsay). 
 
 461. Leucosarcia picata — (Wonga -Wonga Pigeon). Lo- 
 cality — Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. ^ Egg 
 — Pure white, oval, and of the usual glossy appearance. Lengtli, 
 1 inch 6 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 1 line. 
 
 462. Phaps chalcoptera — (Common Bronze- wing). Lo- 
 cality — Australia and Tasmania. Egg — White. Length, 1 inch 
 4| lines ; breadth, 1 inch. 
 
 I have seen the Bronze-wing breeding in Victoria in July. 
 Sometimes when they possess young they will endeavor to allure 
 
PIGEONS. 
 
 49 
 
 you by fluttering on the ground just out of reach, feigning a 
 broken leg or wing, and continue doing so until they have drawn 
 you a considerable distance from the nest. 
 
 463. Phaps elegans — (Brush Bronze-wing). Locality — 
 Australia and Tasmania. Egg — White. Length, 1 inch 3 
 lines ; breadth, 11 lines. 
 
 465. Geophaps scripta — (Partridge Bronze-wing). Lo- 
 cality — Australia, except North and West. ^ Egg — Glossy- 
 w^hite, with a faint greenish tinge. Length, 1 inch 2f lines ; 
 breadth, 10| lines. 
 
 466. Geophaps smithii — (Smith’s Partridge Bronze-wing). 
 Locality — North Australia. Egg — Greenish white. Length, 1 
 inch 3 lines ; breadth, 10^ lines. 
 
 469. OcYPHAPS LOPHOTES — (Crested Bronze-wing). Locality 
 — New South Wales, Victoria, North and South Australia. 
 Egg — White. Length, 1 inch 4 lines ; breadth, 1 inch. 
 
 471. Ertthrauchena humeralis — (Barred -shouldered 
 Dove). Locality — North Australia, Queensland, New South 
 Wales, and New Guinea. Egg — Oval, delicate white. 
 Length, 11 lines ; breadth, 8 lines. 
 
 472. Geopelia tranquilla — (Peaceful Dove). Locality — 
 Australia, except West. Egg — Oval, white. Length, 91- 
 lines ; breadth, 7 lines. 
 
 474. Stictopelia cijneata — (Little Turtle-Dove). Locality 
 — New South Wales, Victoria, South and West Australia. Egg 
 — White. Length, 8i lines ; breadth, 5^ lines. 
 
50 
 
 OOLOGY OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 ORDER V — GALLING — Gallinaceoits Birrs. 
 Incubating months, September to January. 
 
 Family — Merapopira:.— M egapodes, &c. 
 
 JSTests — Large mounds of earth or sand, leaves, and green herbage 
 are raised to cover the eggs, which are incubated by the 
 action of the sun, together with the heat engendered by 
 the decomposing of vegetable matter. Clutch, eight or 
 more eggs. 
 
 476. Talegulltjs lathami — (Wattle Talegull us). Locality 
 — Queensland and New South Wales. Fgg — Perfectly white, 
 long oval form, very thin fragile shell. Length, Sf inches ; 
 breadth, 2f inches. 
 
 477. Leipoa ocellata — (Ocellated Leipoa). Locality — 
 New South Wales, Victoria, South and West Australia. Fgg — 
 Light pink, the color being brightest and most uniform when 
 freshly laid. Shell, very thin and brittle. Length, 3-| inches ; 
 breadth, 2f inches. 
 
 478. Megaporius tumulus — (Australian Megapode). Zo- 
 cality — North Australia. Fgg — Color reddish brown, sometimes 
 dirty yellowish white : the true shell is white, but the coloring 
 is influenced by the composition of the mound in which it is 
 found. Length, 3i inches ; breadth, 2i inches. 
 
 Family — TuRNiciRiE. — Turnices. 
 
 Nests slight, constructed of grasses, and placed in hollows on the 
 ground. Clutch, four eggs. 
 
 479. Turnix MELANOGASTER — (Black-breasted Tumix). Lo- 
 cality — Queensland. Fgg — Whitish ground color, finely and 
 
 thickly speckled all over with light brown, over this is sparingly 
 distributed large heavy well-defined blotches of dark brown and 
 dark indigo or black, a few bluish- grey blotches also appearing 
 as if under the surface of the shell. Length, 1 inch 1 line ; 
 breadth, 10| lines. 
 
 480. Turnix varius — (Varied Turnix), Locality — Aus- 
 tralia and Tasmania. Fgg — Pale buff, very minutely and thickly 
 spotted and freckled with reddish brown, chestnut, and purplish 
 grey. Length, 1 inch 2 lines ; breadth, 11 lines. 
 
 483. Turnix velox — (Swift-flying Turnix). Locality — Aus- 
 tralia, except North. Fgg — Dirty white, very thickly blotched 
 
GALLINACEOUS BIEDS. 
 
 51 
 
 blotched all over with markings of chestnut : specimens from 
 West Australia are much lighter in color and chestnut blotch- 
 ings more minute. Length, 11^ lines; breadth, 9 lines. 
 
 485. Pedtonomus toequatus — (Collared Plain-Wanderer). 
 Locality — 'New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. 
 ^ Eyy — Shape, pyriform. Some, in suddenly contracting towards 
 the smaller end, have a lengthened point or neck, which gives 
 them quite the pear-like shape. Grround color yellowish-white, 
 speckled and blotched all over, particularly at the larger end, 
 with olive, umber, and grey markings, the last color a])pearing 
 as if under the surface of the shell. When the shells are empty 
 and rubbed against each other, a peculiar sound is produced, 
 like that caused by the grating of fractured pieces of fine china- 
 ware. Average dimensions of a clutch of three. Length, 1 inch 
 4 lines ; breadth, 1 inch. 
 
 Family — Peedtcid^. — Quails. 
 
 Nests constructed of grass and leaves, placed on the ground in 
 thick grass or crops. Clutch, ten, to fourteen, or more eggs. 
 
 486. CoTiJENix PECTOEALis — (Pectoral Quail). Locality — 
 Australia and Tasmania. Fgy — Much variation exists in the 
 coloring, some being largely blotched all over with brown on a 
 straw-white ground, while from this to a finely-spotted marking, 
 every variety occurs. Length, 1 inch 3 lines ; breadth, 11^ 
 lines. 
 
 487. Stxoicus austealis — (Swamp-Quail). Locality — Aus- 
 tralia and Tasmania. Fgg — Sometimes uniform bluish white, 
 but more frequently minutely freckled all over with buff. 
 Length, 1 inch 2^ lines; breadth, 11^ lines. 
 
 488. Stxoicus dtemexexsis — (Tasmanian Swamp-Quail). 
 
 Locality — Victoria and Tasmania. Fgg — More greenish 
 
 than that of S, Australis^ and is thickly sprinkled all over with 
 minute spots of brown. Length, 1 inch 3^ lines ; breadth, 
 1 inch 1 line. 
 
 490. Stxoicus ceevinijs — (Northern Swamp-Quail). Lo- 
 cality — North Australia. Fgg — Cream- white, without markings 
 of any kind. Length, 1 inch f lines ; breadth, lines. 
 
 491. Excaleatoeta AUSTEALIS — (Least Swamp-Quail). Lo- 
 cality — Australia, except North and West. Fgg — Dirty 
 
 yellow or straw-colored, completely speckled and marked all 
 over with small gummy shiny-looking spots of brown ; character 
 of shell, thick. Length, llj lines ; breadth, 9 lines. 
 
 H 
 
52 
 
 OOLOGY OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 ORDEB F7— STHITTHIONES— OsTnicHES, &c. 
 
 Family — Struthiokid^. 
 
 492. DROMAITJS NOYJE-HOLLAifDiJi: — (Emu). Locality — Aus- 
 tralia, except West. Fgg — Beautiful dark green, resembling 
 shagreen in appearance. Length, 5i inches ; breadth, Sf 
 inches. 
 
 Six or seven eggs are placed in a cavity scooped in the 
 ground. The task of incubating them, whieh occurs in July or 
 August, devolves upon the male. 
 
 OBDFR VII—(JRAJJLM — Waders, or Stilt-Walkers. 
 Incubating months, August to January. 
 
 Family — Otidid^.— Bustards. 
 
 495, Chortotis australis — (Australian Bustard). Locality 
 — Australia. Fgg — Olive-color, stained with longitudinal dashes 
 of brown. The clutch of two eggs is usually deposited on the 
 bare ground. Length, 3|- inches ; breadth, 2i inches. 
 
 Family — Charadriad^— Plovers. 
 
 Clutch two eggs, deposited on the bare ground. 
 
 496. (EDiOTEMrs {Burhinus) grallarius — (Southern Stone- 
 Plover). Locality — Australia, except West. Fgg — Varies con- 
 siderably in color as well as in form of markings; the usual 
 ground-color is pale buff, thickly blotched all over with umber- 
 brown. Length, 2 inches 3 lines ; breadth, 1 inch lines. 
 
 498. H^matopus lokgirostris — (White-breasted Oyster- 
 catcher). Locality — Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. 
 Fgg — Buff stone color, marked all over with irregular blotches 
 of dark chestnut brown, approaching to black. Length, 2 
 inches 3 lines; breadth, 1 inch lines. 
 
 499. HiEMATOPUS EULiGiNOSUS — (Sooty Oyster- 
 
 catcher). Locality — Australia and Tasmania. Fgg — Similar to 
 H. longirostris, of a light stone color, blotched all over with 
 large ii-regular markings of dark brown, some of which appear 
 as if beneath the surface, and of a purplish hue. Length, 2 
 inches 8 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 9 lines. 
 
WADERS. 
 
 53 
 
 500. Lobivanellus lobatus — (Wattled Plover). Locality 
 — Australia, except North and West, and Tasmania. * * Eyy — 
 Elegantly shaped, contracted towards the smaller end, ground 
 color of a rich warmish green, boldly splashed and blotched all 
 over with markings of a darker shade and oliv^e. Length, 2 
 inches ; breadth, 1 inch 5 lines. 
 
 501. Lobivanellus peksonatus — (Masked Plover). Lo- 
 cality — North Australia and New Gruinea. Egg — Dull olive 
 yellow, dashed all over with spots and markings of blackish 
 brown and dark olive brown, particularly at the larger end, in 
 shape somewhat pointed at the smaller end. Length, 1 inch 7^ 
 lines - breadth, 1 inch lines. 
 
 502. Saeciophobus pectoralis — (Black-breasted Plover). 
 Locality — Australia, except North and West, and Tasmania. 
 Egg — <Lround color light olive grey, very thickly blotched and 
 stained with brown, so as nearly to cover the surface, particularly 
 at the larger end. Length, 1 inch 9 lines breadth, 1 inch 3 
 lines. 
 
 503. Squatarola Helvetica — (G-rey Plover). Locality — 
 Australia and Tasmania. Egg — Greyish or yellowish stone 
 color, blotched and clouded boldly on the larger half, and chiefly 
 round the end,, with irregular-edged blotches of blackish sepia, 
 running mostly in a longitudinal direction ; the markings are 
 smaller near the minor end, and beneath the dark coloring are 
 smears and traces of bluish grey.. In shape some eggs are rather 
 pointed, and others slightly rounded at the small end. Average 
 length, 2. inches i line breadth, 1 inch 5 lines. (Legge). 
 
 Until about three years ago the breeding haunts of the Grey 
 Plover remained undiscovered. In a letter from Mr. Ernest 
 Gibson, of Buenos Ayres (who,, by the way, is performing work 
 of lasting interest in working up notes of the birds of his 
 adopted country), informs me that an intimate friend of his — 
 Mr. Harvie- Brown, together with Mr. Seebohm, were the first 
 to take eggs of the Grey Plover on the shores o-f the Acrtic 
 Ocean at the mouth of the Petchora River.. 
 
 505. Eudromais australis — (Australian Dottrel). Locality 
 — New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. Egg — In 
 form rather less pointed than the usual pyriform shape of 
 Plovers’ eggs ; the ground color is of a deep rich cream or buff, 
 sparingly sprinkled all over with irregular spots and some elon- 
 gated crooked markings of chocolate black, with a few minute 
 dots and dashes of a lighter kind, the markings look black in 
 certain lights, but of a chocolate tint in others. Length, 1 inch 
 5|^ lines ; breadth, 1 inch. (Ramsay). 
 
 507. -^GiALiTES HiATicuLA — (Ring Dottrel). Locality — 
 New South Wales (occasional) and New Guinea, ^ Egg — 
 (Prom Europe) — Somewhat pyriform, apex very round and 
 smaller end sharply contracted; ground color dirty white or 
 stone grey, spotted and blotched with round markings of dark 
 
54 
 
 OOLOGY OF AUSTEALTAN BIEDS. 
 
 brown, black, and dull grey, tlie last appearing as if under the 
 shell’s surface ; the markings are rather sparingly distributed, 
 but thicken towards the apex. Length, 1 inch 4 lines ; breadth, 
 inch. 
 
 508. ^oiALiTES MONACHA — (Hooded Dottrel). Locality — 
 Australia, except North and Tasmania. JEgg — Pale stone color, 
 sprinkled all over with numerous small irregularly-shaped marks 
 of brownish black. Length, 1 inch H lines ; breadth, 1 inch | 
 line. 
 
 500. ^GiALiTES NiGEiFTiONS — (Black-fronted Dottrel) . Lo- 
 ealily — Australia, except North and West. Egg — In form 
 resembles the eggs of other Dottrels, being considerably pointed 
 at the smaller end, of a pale stone or dirty yellowish buff 
 color, very numerously but minutel}^ speckled with dark brown. 
 Length, 1 inch 2 lines ; breadth, 10 lines, 
 
 510. ^GiALOPHiLUS EUPiCAPiLLiJS — (Eed-cappcd Dottrel). 
 Locality — Australiay Tasmania, and New Gruinea. Egg — Pale 
 stone color, sprinkled all over with irregular blotches of brownish 
 black. Length, 1 inch 3 lines ; breadth, 11 lines. 
 
 513. Erytheogonys ctoctus — (Eed-kneed Dottrel). Lo- 
 cality — Australia, except West. Egg — Grround color yellowish 
 white, which is nearly obscured by the numerous streaks, 
 blotches, and patches of very dark olive browm, approaching 
 black, which are marbled promiscuously over the whole of the 
 surface. Length, 1 inch 2 lines ; breadth, lOi lines. 
 
 514. Actittjeus {Bartramia^ baeteamitjs — (Bartram’s Sand- 
 piper). Localily — New South Wales (accidental). * Egg — 
 (From Europe) — Not unlike in color and markings that of the 
 Common Sandpiper {Actitis)^ but of course proportionally larger, 
 also being pyriform, but more obtuse at the smaller end ; 
 ground color warm stone grey with a pinkish tinge, sprinkled 
 all over, but more particularly on the apex, with spots and small 
 blotches of brown and reddish brown, and some obscured mark- 
 ings appear as if under the surface of the shell. Length, 1 inch 
 9 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 3 lines. 
 
 Family — GrLAEEOLiDiE. — Prantincoles. 
 
 Clutch, three or four eggs deposited on the bare ground. 
 
 515. GrLApEOLA GEALLAEiA — (Australian Prantincole). Zo- 
 cality ovih Australia and New South Wales. ^ Egg — At 
 first sight not unlike that of ^gialites nigrifrons (Black-fronted 
 Dottrel), with the exception of being proportionally larger and 
 not so pyriform in shape ; ground color of a yellowish buffy- 
 stone, lightly speckled and streaked all over with a light shade 
 of umber and faint greyish markings. Length, 1 inch 3 lines ; 
 breadth, 11 lines. This rare inland bird’s egg w as taken in the 
 Darling District, and kindly lent by Mr. II. 11. Peck. 
 
WADKES. 
 
 55 
 
 51G. Glareola orientalis — (Oriental Pratincole). Locality 
 — North Australia (occasional). Llgg — Assimilates in shape to 
 that of the foregoing, inclined to oval, and a little swollen about 
 the bilge. Ground color where visible yellowish buff, thickly 
 marbled and blotched all over with olive, form a light shade to 
 almost black, and intermingled with a few greyish markings. 
 Length, 1 inch 3 lines; breadth, 11^ lines. 
 
 Family — HiMANTOPoniDiE. — Stilts. 
 
 Clutch, four eggs, generally deposited about the margin of swamps. 
 
 517. Himantopus leucocephalus — (White-headed Stilt). 
 Locality — Australia and Tasmania. Fgg — Pyriform, pale yellow 
 brown, spotted and blotched with umber and black, the black 
 spots running together and forming large patches on the 
 thick end. Length, 1 inch G lines ; breadth, 1 inch lines. 
 (Jdamsay). 
 
 518. Cladorhynchus pectoralis — (Banded Stilt). Lo- 
 cality — New South Wales, Victoria, South and West Australia, 
 and Tasmania, ^ Fgg — Vellowish olive ground color, heavily 
 blotched and spotted, especially on the apex, with dark brown 
 and black. Length, 1 inch 9 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 3 lines. 
 
 Family — RECURViROSTRiUiE. — Avocets. 
 
 Clutch, four eggs, deposited on the bare ground, near the margin 
 of swamps or standing water. 
 
 519. Eecuryirostra rubricollis — (Eed-necked Avocet). 
 Locality — Australia and Tasmania. Fgg — The ground color 
 varies from light stone color to creamy yellow, some of the 
 former tints have a faint olive green shade, some are heavily 
 blotched towards the thicker end, others sparingly covered with 
 spots, dots, and freckles of dark umber brown and black, with 
 a few absolute spots of slate grey. Length, 1 inch lines ; 
 breadth, nearly 1 inch. (Eamsay). 
 
 Family — Trus^oid^. — S andpipers, &c. 
 
 Clutch, two to four eggs, deposited on the bare ground or sand. 
 Some species construct slight nests amongst herbage. 
 
 523. Ancylochilus subarquatus — (Curlew Sandpiper). 
 Locality — Australia, Tasmania, and New' Guinea. ^ ^ Fgg— 
 Somewhat pyriform in shape ; ground color of a dull yellowish 
 olive or bufi stone, fairly marked all over with round well de- 
 fined spots of umber of different shades varying from very light 
 to very dark. Length, 1 inch 2| lines ; breadth, 11 lines. 
 
 527. Terekia cinerea — (Terek Sandpiper). Locality — 
 
 Queensland and New South Wales. Fgg — Pear-shaped; 
 
56 
 
 OOLOGY OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 ground color of a stony grey with a perceptible greenish tinge, 
 blotched, spotted, and streaked all over with rich umber or 
 reddish brown, some lighter markings appearing under the 
 surface of the shell. The egg is not unlike that of the Marsh 
 (Sandpiper, only the markings are more numerous and smaller. 
 Length, 1 inch 5f lines ; breadth, 12^ lines. 
 
 528. Actitis hypoleucos — (Common Sandpiper). Locality 
 — Australia and New Gruinea. ^ JEgg — Grround color warm stony 
 grey or creamy color, sparingly marked, but closer about the 
 apex, with roundish spots and blotches of umber, reddish brown, 
 and obscure grey, the last color appearing under the surface 
 of the shell. Length, 1 inch lines ; breadth, 12^ lines. 
 
 529. GtLOTTIS olottoides — (Greenshank). Locality — Aus- 
 tralia. ^ LJyy — Pear-shaped, apex rounded, the smaller end nip- 
 ping sharply off. Pich buff stone color, mediumly daubed and 
 blotched with rich umber and reddish brown; the usual number 
 of purplish grey markings appear under the shell’s surface. In 
 other specimens the ground color has a faint greenish tinge, wdth 
 the markings less numerous and more speckled in form. Length, 
 2 inches ; breadth, 1 inch 4 lines. 
 
 530. Totanus staonatilis — (M arsh Sandpiper). Locality 
 — Queensland, New South Wales, and New Guinea. * Egg — 
 Pear-shaped, of a rich buffy stone color, mediumly daubed and 
 blotched all over with rich umber or reddish brown and dull 
 grey ; the last color appears under the shell’s surface. Length, 
 1 inch 6 lines ; breadth, 12^ lines. 
 
 532. Strepsilas interpres — (T urnstone). Locality — Aus- 
 tralia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. ^ Egg — Large for the size 
 of the bird, pear-shaped. Ground color of a pale olive or 
 warmish green, daubed and smudged with large and small 
 patches of umber ; the larger markings are about the thicker 
 end, where some have the appearance of having been wiped on 
 obliquely with a brush. Altogether this interesting egg pre- 
 sents a singular appearance. Length, 1 inch 7 lines ; breadth, 
 1 inch lines. 
 
 Family — Scolopacid^. — Snipe. 
 
 Clutch, four eggs, deposited in a slight hollow on the ground, 
 under tufts of grass or in other herbage. 
 
 533. Gallinaoo australis — (New Holland Snipe). Lo- 
 cality — Australia and Tasmania. ^ Egg — This very interest- 
 ing species, in shape and ground color, is not unlike a minia- 
 ture Oyster-catcher’s, only more heavily blotched. Ground 
 color is of a light yellowish buff or stone, heavily marked all 
 over with large well-defined patches of very dark olive, approach- 
 ing Chinese ink color; these patches, some of which cover the 
 area of half a three- penny bit, assume fanciful figures, and are 
 
WADERS. 
 
 57 
 
 conjoined with other smaller and streaky markings. Where the 
 ground color is visible, a few light greyish markings appear as 
 if under the shell’s surface. Length, 1 inch 4| lines ; breadth, 
 1 inch I line. 
 
 The following is a letter of mine that appeared in The Aus- 
 tralasian, 6th Oct., 1883, which may be of interest to my 
 readers : — 
 
 “An excellent and most interesting article, by ‘ Grroundbait,* appeared 
 in your columns on the 8th ult. But some portions of it were misleading, 
 and behind the ornithological and oological knowledge of the present day as 
 regards the Australian Snipe {Gallinago Australis) . 
 
 “ In reference to the migration. It has been proved beyond all doubt 
 that Snipe migrate from the interior of the continent and arrive simultaneously 
 in Tasmania and Southern parts of Australia by night about the period of 
 the full moon nearest the end of August or beginning of September. In 
 January they return northward by degrees, in time for the wet season in the 
 interior, and for the purpose of breeding there. Therefore, the conclusions 
 put forward by ‘ Groundbait ’ cannot be entertained, viz. : — That ‘ the 
 Snipe make their way to the Indian Archipelago, or to India itself, where 
 Snipe are numerous,’ but not of the same species, or that “ they go south to 
 some cold lands far south of Tasmania. 
 
 “ It has been proved that Snipe incubate or breed in the interior during 
 the wet season, about April or May. I saw a clutch of three eggs which 
 were taken in the Darling district, near Bourke. I am in possession of one 
 of these eggs, which I exhibited at the annual conversazione of the Field 
 Naturalists’ Club, in April, 1882, and which I subsequently described.” 
 
 (Here follows the description of egg as given above). 
 
 “ The nest of these remarkable eggs was simply the bare earth, slightly 
 hollowed, under tufts of grass. I also saw another clutch of similar eggs 
 in the Australian Museum, Sydney, which was afterwards described by the 
 curator. Mr. E. P. Ramsay, before the Linnean Society of New South Wales, 
 in January, 1882. Travellers between the Upper Darling and the Cooper 
 have informed me that they have observed young Snipe running and hiding 
 in the grass. ‘ Groundbait ’ says : — ‘ Neither Burke nor Wills, nor, as far 
 as I can learn, any other explorer has mentioned his meeting with Snipe in 
 either the interior of this continent or on its northern shores.’ Captain 
 Stuart informs us that he met with a few in the interior, but with great 
 numbers breeding in the valley of Mypunga, South Australia, and Gilbert, 
 the able coadjutor of the celebrated naturalist Gould, mentions having met 
 with the birds in the country about Port Darwin.” 
 
 'Family — Tantalira]. — Ibises and Spoonbills. 
 
 Nests slightly constructed of coarse sticks and other material, 
 placed in overhanging branches of trees, or on the ground 
 in reed-beds bordering swamps and rivers. Clutch, four 
 to nine eggs. 
 
 539. Threskioh^tts STRiCTiPERi^is — (White Ibis). Locality 
 — Australia, except West. ^^Fgg — Similar to the better-known 
 Spoonbill’s ; long, oval in form, white ; surface of shell some- 
 what rough, being minutely pitted all over, also sometimes stained 
 by dirt of the nest. Length, 2f inches ; breadth, 1 ^ inches. 
 
 White Ibises breed in the reed-beds in the neighborhood of 
 the Murray, in November, laying sometimes nine eggs. 
 
58 
 
 OOLOaY OF AUSTEALIAN BIKDS. 
 
 540. FALcmELLUS laNEUs — (Grlossj Ibis). Locality — Aus- 
 tralia, except West. ^ Ef/g — Surface slightly rough, of a uni- 
 form cold bluish green. Length, 2 inches li lines ; breadth, 1 
 inch 5 lines. 
 
 542. Platieis flayipes — (Yellow-legged Spoonbill). Lo- 
 cality — Australia, except North West. ^ ^gg — White, long, 
 
 tapering towards the smaller end ; surface of shell rough and 
 minutely indented all over. Length, 2 inches ; breadth, 1 
 inches. 
 
 Family — GtEIJid^. — C ranes. 
 
 543. Grurs AUSTRALASiATirrs — (Australian Crane). Locality 
 — Australia, except West. Egg — Cream color, blotched all over, 
 particularly at the larger end, with chestnut and purplish brown, 
 the latter color appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell. 
 Clutch, two eggs, deposited on the bare ground on plains. 
 Length, eSf inches ; breadth, 2^ inches. 
 
 At times, these birds fight desperately to defend their eggs 
 against intruders, and woe-betide the person that comes in con- 
 tact with their sharp bills. 
 
 Family — Ardeid^. — H erons. 
 
 Nests composed of sticks, generally placed in trees, others on 
 shelving rocks or on the ground. Clutch, four eggs. 
 
 545. Ardea ciiVEREA — (Common Heron). Locality — New 
 South Wales and South Australia. ^ Egg — Of a uniform light 
 green ; surface minutely spotted or otherwise marked with lime. 
 Length, 2 ^ inches ; breadth. If inches. 
 
 547. Arbea PACIFICA — (Pacific Heron). Locality — Aus- 
 tralia. ^ Egg — Oval, surface a little rough, of a light bluish 
 green. Length, 2 inches 2 \ lines ; breadth, 1 inch 6 lines. 
 
 548. Ardea (Demigretta) noy^-hollandi^ — (W hite-fronted 
 Heron) Locality — Australia, and Tasmania. Egg — Pale bluish 
 green. Length, 1 inch 10^ lines ; breadth, 1 inch 3| lines. This 
 common Heron is a persistent breeder. I heard of five clutches 
 of five eggs each having been taken from one nest, and, notwith- 
 standing, the bird succeeded in rearing a brood before the season 
 expired. 
 
 549. Herodias alba — (A ustralian Egret). Locality — Aus- 
 tralia and Tasmania, Egg — Long, oval, light bluish green. 
 
 Length, 2 inches 1 line ; breadth, 1 inch 5 lines. 
 
 550. Herodias egettoides {intermedia) — (Plumed Egret). 
 Locality — Australia, except West and New Guinea. Egg — 
 ^Regular oval, texture smooth, color pale sea green. Average 
 length, 1 inch 11 lines; breadth, 1 inch 4 lines. (Legge). 
 
WADERS. 
 
 59 
 
 552. Hekodias gauzetta — (L ittle Egret). Locality — 
 Queensland. Egg — Very light greenish tinge or bluish 
 white. Length, 1 inch 8 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 3 lines. 
 
 555. Demiegretta jugularis {sacra) — (Blue Eeef Heron). 
 Locality — North Australia. Egg — Pale bluish white. Length, 
 1 inch 10^ lines ; breadth, 1 inch 3 lines. 
 
 557. Nycticorax {Nyctiaradea) caledoistcus — (Nankeen 
 Night Heron). Locality — Australia, Tasmania, and New Gruinea.’ 
 Egg — Pale green. The longer dimension of Mr. Grould’s is at 
 \rariance by over half-an-inch with Mr. Eamsay’s. The measure- 
 ment of a pair of these eggs in my collection nearly corresponds 
 o Mr. Grould’s, wliich is no doubt that of the typical egg, viz., 
 21 by inches. 
 
 558. Botaurus poiciloptilus — (Australian Bittern). Lo- 
 cality — Australia, except West and Tasmania. ^ Egg — Rather 
 corpulent and smaller end nipping sharply off, of a uniform 
 light dull olive color ; on examining the surface of the shell 
 numerous pin-point-like indents will be observed as if struck 
 longitudinally. Length, 2 inches ; breadth, inches. 
 
 559. Butoroides flayicollis — (Y ellow-necked Mangrove 
 Bittern). Locality — Australia, except Victoria and New Gruinea. 
 Egg — Of a much paler bluish green, and more rounded form, 
 than those of any other species of the group. Length, 1 inch G 
 lines ; breadth, 1 inch lines. 
 
 This description is Grould’s. But I have received an au- 
 thenticated egg of this species from Queensland, which is white 
 of a bluish milky tinge. Length, 1 inch 10 lines ; breadth, 1 
 inch 4 lines. 
 
 560. Butoroides macrorhyncha — (T hick-billed Mangrove- 
 Bittern). Locality — Queensland and New South Wales. Egg 
 — Pale bluish green. Length, 1 inch 8^ lines ; breadth, 1 inch 
 2i lines. (Ramsay). 
 
 561. Butoroides janaxica — (Little Mangrove Bittern). 
 Locality — North Australia, Queensland, and New South Wales. 
 Egg — Elongated oval, pointed at both ends, color very pale 
 green. Length, 1 inch lines; breadth, 1 inch 3 lines. 
 
 Family — Rallida:. — R ails, &c. 
 
 Nests open, constructed of grasses, reeds, or other aquatic veget- 
 ables, placed amongst rushes or herbage in creeks and 
 swamps, or on the banks. Clutch, four to ten eggs. 
 
 563. PoRPHYRio MELANOTUS — (Black-backed Porphyrio). 
 Locality — Australia, except West and Tasmania. ^ Egg — 
 Grround color light brownish buff, but sometimes of a sagy 
 green tinge, mediumly marked with irregular-sized spots and 
 blotches of reddish brown or sienna and greyish purple, also 
 minutely freckled with the same colors. The surface of some 
 
 I 
 
60 
 
 OOLOaY OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 shells is somewhat lustrous, that of others is not. Size varies 
 considerably, average about 2 inches by inches. 
 
 565. Trtboivyx moutterti — (M ortier’s Tribonyx). Locality 
 — Tasmania. Egg — Stone color, marked all over with thinly- 
 dispersed, irregular-shaped, and variously-sized spots and blotches 
 of dark chestnut brown, also very minutely freckled with the 
 same color. Length, inches ; breadth, H inches. 
 
 566. Tetbonyx yentealts — (Black-tailed Tribonyx). Zo- 
 cality — Australia. ^Egg — Greenish gronnd color, very minutely 
 freckled all over with reddish brown specks, with a few large 
 blotches here and there over the shell. Length, 1 inch lines ; 
 breadth, 1 inch 2^ lines. 
 
 This description is from thoroughly authenticated specimens. 
 
 I believe the late Mr. Gould has described for this species some 
 other egg (probably the following). Nevertheless, considering 
 his limited sojourn on our continent, it is surprising what a 
 quantity of information he amassed, and what few errors have 
 crept into it. Speaking for the whole of his oological memoranda 
 only two or three exceptions can be taken. 
 
 567. Gallinula tenebeosa — (Sombre Gallinule). Locality 
 
 — Australia, except West, Egg — More resembles that of the 
 
 Coot {Eiilica') in shape, color, and character of markings than 
 any other of the family. Ground color dull white, with a very 
 faint greenish tinge mediumly marked with round spots of 
 pinkish red and purple, also very minutely speckled all over 
 with the same colors. Length, 1 inch 10 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 
 4 lines. 
 
 These eggs above described were taken in Bancroft’s Bay, 
 Gippsland Lakes, where I have seen and shot the birds. Typ- 
 ical eggs of true Gallinulcc are always beautifully proportioned 
 oblongs, not “ rounded and swollen in form,” as Mr. Eamsay 
 described the Sombre Gallinule’s ; moreover, his dimensions 
 (1.55 X 1.2 inches) are less than those of the British Gallinule’s 
 egg, although the Australian representative is a much larger 
 bird. 
 
 568. Ftiltca arstealis — (Australian Coot). Locality — 
 
 Australia and Tasmania. Egg — Large for the size of the 
 
 bird ; dull white, ground color marked all over with freckles and 
 small roundish spots of dark purplish brown. Length, 2 inches 
 1 line ; breadth, 1 inch 5 lines. 
 
 569. Paeea {JLydralector) gallinacea {cristata) — (Comb- 
 creasted Parra). Locality — North Australia, Queensland, and 
 New South Wales. Egg — Ground color dark, sbiny, raw 
 sienna-tint, over which is traced in various directions a series of 
 broad and fine hair-like contorted lines of brownish black, which, 
 by occasionally uniting laterally and crossing each other, form 
 here and there large blotches. Although the markings are of 
 the same character on each egg, they are somewhat differently 
 distributed ; thus on on(‘ speciriKui they are more numerous at 
 
WADERS. 
 
 61 
 
 the larger end and absent at the smaller, while in another they 
 are more abundant at the smaller and less at the larger ex- 
 tremity. The egg is, moreover, rendered remarkably conspicuous 
 by the singular pointed form of the smaller end, and by their 
 small size as compared with that of the bird, but, above all, by 
 the form and disposition of the markings, which are as if traced 
 by the hand of a person who had amused himself by attemping 
 to cover the surface with fantastic streaks, blotches, and con- 
 torted curves from end to end. Length, 1 inch lines ; 
 breadth, lOj lines. 
 
 570. HypoTiBNiDiA PHTLLTPENSis — (Pectoral Eail). Locality 
 Australia and Tasmania. Egg — Cream color, with numerous 
 large irregular blotches of dark chestnut red at the larger end, 
 and a few smaller ones distributed aver the remainder of the 
 surface. Length, 1 inch 5| lines ; breadth, 1 inch lines. 
 
 371. Eallus (Lewijiia) braciiipus — (Lewin’s Water-Eail). 
 Locality — Australia, except North and Tasmania. Egg — Pale 
 olive color, blotched all over, but particularly at the larger end, 
 with reddish and dark brown. Length, 1 inch 3 lines ; breadth, 
 lOJ lines. 
 
 572. Eulabeorn-is castaneivextris — (Chestnut -bellied 
 Eail). Locality — North Australia and New Gruinea. Egg — 
 Eather lengthened in form, of a pale pinkish white, dotted all 
 over with reddish chestnut, the spots being thinly dispersed, and 
 some of them appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell, 
 giving them a darker tint. Length, 2 inches lines ; breadth, 
 1 inch 7i lines. 
 
 574, PoRZANA PALUSTRis — (Little Water- Crake). Locality 
 — Australia, except North and Tasmania. Egg — Nearly uniform 
 brownish olive. Length, 12i lines ; breadth, 9^ lines^ 
 
 575. PoRZANA {Zapornia) tabuensis — (Tabuan Water- 
 
 Crake). Locality — Australia and Tasmania. Egg — In shape 
 
 obtuse, ground color dirty white, streaked and mottled all over 
 with very light brown and light chestnat. Length, 1 inch 2 
 lines; breadth, 11 lines,. 
 
62 
 
 OOLOGY OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 ORDER F/J/—NATATOEES.— Swimmers. 
 
 Incubating months, August to December, which also apply to 
 sea-birds on that part of the Continent and Islands washed by 
 the Southern Ocean, but in the Tropical seas the months are 
 generally April, May, and June. 
 
 Family — A^ATiDiE. — Greese, Ducks, &c. 
 
 Hests warm, downy, placed in sedgy herbage, holes of trees, or in 
 old deserted nests of Magpies, Herons, &c. Clutch, two to 
 twelve eggs. 
 
 577. Chetopis atrata — (Black Swan). Locality — Aus- 
 tralia and Tasmania. Egg — Pale green, stained all over with 
 huffy brown. Length, 4^ inches ; breadth, 2f inches. 
 
 578. Cereopsis noy^-hollandi^ — (C ereopsis Goose). Lo~ 
 eality — New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tas- 
 mania. Egg — Smooth, creamy white. In shape both ends 
 nearly alike, with a good bilge ; shell a little limey. Length, 
 3^ inches ; breadth, 2\ inches. 
 
 579. Ais^seranas melanoleuca — S emipalmated Goose). Lo- 
 cality — Australia, except West. Egg — Brownish white. 
 
 Length, 3 inches (long), 2 inches (round); breadth, 2 
 inches (long), 2 inches (round). 
 
 580. CiiLAMYDocHEN JUBATA — (Maned Goose). Locality — 
 Australia and Tasmania. ^^Egg — Light creamy white. Length, 
 2 tV iRches ; breadth, 1| inches. 
 
 581. Nettapijs {Anseneua) pulchellus — (Green Pygmy 
 Goose). Locality — North Australia and New Guinea, Egg — 
 White. Length, 1 inch 10^ lines ; breadth, 1 inch 4^ lines. 
 
 582. Nettapus (Anseneua) albipennts — ( White -quilled 
 Pygmy Goose). Locality — Queensland and New South Wales. 
 
 * Egg — Whitish color. Length, 1 inch Uplines; breadth, 1 
 inch 4| lines. 
 
 584. Casarca TADORis^OTDES — (Chestnut-colored Shieldrake)- 
 Locality — New South Wales, Victoria, South and West Aus" 
 tralia, and Tasmania. ^ Egg — Very smooth to the touch, and 
 light creamy white ; the dimensions of two eggs from a clutch 
 of five taken from a hollow spout of a tree in a forest near 
 Ballan are — Length, 2|- inches ; breadth, nearly 2 inches. 
 
 585. Anas superctliosa — (A ustralian Wild Duck). Lo- 
 cality — Australia and Tasmania. Egg — Smooth, white, with a 
 faint grassy tinge. Length, 2 inches 4 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 
 7 J lines. 
 
SWIMMERS. 
 
 63 
 
 586. Anas {Marecna) punctata — (Australian Teal). Lo- 
 cality — Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. ^^Ecjrj — Oval, 
 smooth, and of a rich cream or light stone color. Length, 2 
 inches ; breadth, 1 inch 5 lines. 
 
 Although the Teal may be considered a common bird, it is 
 rarely that males in full nuptial plumage are obtained. I had 
 the good fortune to secure an egg last season from a clutch from 
 v^^hich a Teal, in full nuptial livery, was flushed. The dimensions 
 of the egg were, i a line over 2 inches by inches. Some 
 sportsmen and bushmen erroneously call these beautiful plum- 
 aged birds Mountain Teal, supposing them to be a variety of the 
 Common Teal. Now, scientific egg-collectors collect and preserve 
 the down from all Ducks’ nests. If the down of the so-called 
 Mountain Teal’s nest were examined with that of the common 
 Teal’s nest, I have no doubt both would be proved to be identical. 
 
 587. Stictonetta njevosa — (Freckled Duck). Locality — 
 
 Victoria, South and West Australia. — Lougish in shape, 
 
 slightly swollen about the upper quarter, and both ends nearly 
 alike; surface smooth or greasy; color of a greenish white 
 tinge. Length, 2 inches lines ; breadth, 1 inch 8 lines. 
 
 588. Spartula rhynchotis — (Australian Shoveller), Lo~ 
 cality — Australia, except North, and Tasmania. * Egg — Smooth, 
 of a light creamy white, with a very faint greenish tinge. In 
 October, 1880, on Phillip Island, Western Port, I flushed a 
 Shoveller from its nest in some tussocky grass, away from, 
 although in, the immediate neighborhood of swamps. The nest 
 contained nine eggs, which appeared to be the complement, as 
 they were half -hatched ; I only took two, which measured — 
 Length, 2 inches lines ; breadth, 1 inch 6 lines. 
 
 589. Spartula clypeata — (European Shoveller). Locality 
 — New South Wales (accidental). ^ Llgg (from Europe) — Light 
 creamy white. Length, 2 inches ; breadth, 1 inch 5|^ lines. 
 
 590. Malacorhynchus membranaceus — (Pink-eye-browed 
 Duck). Locality — Australia and Tasmania. Egg — A rather 
 pointed oval of a rich light cream color. Length, 1 inch 10 lines 
 breadth, 1 inch lines. (Eamsay). 
 
 Mr. Eamsay described a beautiful nest of this Duck taken 
 from a deserted White-fronted Heron’s nest. He says : — “ The 
 structure consisted of a platform of sticks, which formed the 
 nest of the Heron, being thickly covered with dark stately grey 
 down, which formed a rim four inches in height, a large quantity 
 of down was worked in among the sticks and covered the greater 
 part of the sides ; it closed over the eggs above in an elastic mass, 
 quite hiding them.” I have heard of other D ucks similarly 
 selecting old Crows’ or Magpies’ nests. Some of the members 
 of this genus are certainly very unique in their habits — for in- 
 stance, the Wild Duck : if the first part of a clutch be laid and 
 meddled with by a stranger, the bird will indignanty break the 
 eggs, and throw them out of the nest. Here is a “ nut to 
 
64 
 
 OOLOaY OF AUSTEALIAN BIEDS. 
 
 crack ” for some of the good folk who look upon oologists as a 
 parcel of cruel beings, and saj" that it hurts a bird to rob it of 
 its eggs. Take the case of the Wild Duck : how little it cares for 
 its own eggs, if it scatters them out of the nest like so many- 
 live coals upon being simply touched by any person. 
 
 591. Denduocyona oouldi {vagans) — (Whistling Tree-Duck). 
 Locality — North Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, and 
 New Gruinea. Egg — Creamy white. Length, 1 inch lOJ lines ; 
 breadth, 1 inch 6 lines. 
 
 593. Nyroca australis — (White-eyed Duck). Locality — 
 Australia and Tasmania. ^ Egg — Apex rather pointed and 
 both ends almost alike ; smooth and cream-colored. Length, 
 nearly 2 inches ; breadth, nearly 1 inches. 
 
 594. Erismatura AUSTRALIS — (Blue-billed Duck). Locality 
 — Victoria, South and West Australia. Egg — Uniform bluish 
 white, with a very rough surface. Length, 2-1 inches ; breadth, 
 
 2 inches. 
 
 595. Biziura lobata — (Musk Duck). Locality — New South 
 Wales, Victoria, South and West Australia, and Tasmania. 
 Egg — Large for the size of the bird, unlike other ducks eggs, 
 being coarsely grained, and of a uniform pale olive. Length, 
 
 3 J inches ; breadth, 2^ inches. 
 
SWIMMERS. 
 
 65 
 
 Family — Larid^. — G ulls, Terns, &c. 
 
 The members of this family generally breed in flocks on shingly 
 sea-shores, headlands or islands. One to three eggs are 
 placed on the bare sand or ledges of rock. Some species 
 construct nests of sea-weed, placed on shrubs or trees. 
 
 596. Larus {Gahiamis) pacificus — (Pacific Gull). Locality — 
 Australia, except North and Tasmania. Egg — Clear olive, 
 marked all over with blotches of blackish and umber brown, some 
 of the markings appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell. 
 Length, 3 inches ; breadth, 2^ inches. 
 
 597. Bruchigavia {Gelastes) jamesonii {Novce-Hollandice ) — 
 (Silver Gull). Locality — Australia, except North and West, and 
 Tasmania. Egg — Ground color, varying from pale greenish to 
 dark brownish olive ; in some instances slightly, in others largely, 
 blotched and streaked with blackish brown ; they also vary in 
 shape, some being shorter and thicker than others. Average 
 length, 2| inches ; breadth, inches. 
 
 599. Stercorarius {Megalestris) catarrhactes — (Great Skua). 
 Locality — Australia, except North and Tasmania. * Egg — One 
 taken on Campbell’s Island, south of New Zealand, has a some- 
 what rough shell, ground color, light olive, irregularly blotched, 
 with a few markings of olive, a greater number of larger markings, 
 of various shades of grey and brownish purple, appearing as if 
 under the surface of the shell. Length, 2| inches ; breadth, 
 
 2 inches. Another, taken from the Northern Hemisphere, has the 
 ground color of a much darker shade of olive, and the markings 
 more inclined to reddish olive. Length, 2| inches ; breadth, 1| 
 inches. The difference in the sizes of the eggs may be accounted 
 for by the following remarks by Mr. Gould : — ‘‘ I may mention 
 that all specimens (of the above bird) from the Southern Hemis- 
 phere are rather darker in color, and somewhat larger in size, 
 than those from the Northern.” 
 
 While on the topic of Skuas, it is with pleasure I embrace this 
 opportunity of placing on record an addition to the avifauna 
 of Australia, viz.: — Richardson’s Skua — Lestris Richardsoni 
 {parasticus). When steaming up Port Phillip Bay last October, 
 
 I observed numbers of these birds hovering over our wake near 
 the vessel. 
 
 The following is extracted from the Catalogue of the Birds of 
 New Zealand,” by Mr. F. W, Hutton, which appears to tally with 
 the description of the new bird under notice : — ‘^No. 107. Lestris 
 parasiticus ; Temm — Skua Gull. Back and wing coverts, brownish 
 cinereous ; top of the head, brown, varied with white ; neck and 
 breast, white ; abdomen, dusky ; quills and tail, black ; two long 
 narrow plumes from the tale (immature). L., 15.5; W., 11.2; 
 
66 
 
 OOLOaY OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 B., 1.8 ; T., 1.65. Although only in immature plumage, I have 
 very little hesitation in referring the bird to L. parasiticus^ no 
 doubt identical with L. spinicauda Bp., which is not uncom- 
 mon at the Cape of Good Hope.” 
 
 600. Sylochelidon [Thalasseus) caspia — (Caspian Tern). 
 Locality — Australia, except West and Tasmania. Egg — Stone- 
 grey color, marked all over with large and small blotches of umber- 
 brown, a great portion of which appears as if beneath the surface 
 of the shell. Length, 2| inches; breadth, 1| inches. 
 
 601. Thalasseus cristatus — (Torres' Straits Tern). Locality 
 — North Australia and New Guinea. Egg — Ground-color ; is 
 generally stone-grey, in some instances thickly speckled and 
 blotched with black ; others are marked with irregular waved 
 streaks and minute spots of dark brown; others again with 
 scattered irregular streaks and spots of black ; some are thickly 
 blotched, especially at the larger end, with reddish, and others 
 are finely blotched and streaked with dark -red, on a light pinkish 
 grey ground. Average length, 2| inches ; breadth, 1| inches. 
 
 602. Thalasseus poliocercus {Novm-Hollandice) — (Bass's 
 Straits Tern). Locality — Australia, except North and Tasmania. 
 Egg — Yaries considerably in color, some being of a stone-grey, 
 others of a huffy hue, all more or less marked with brown, the 
 markings in some being large and irregular blotches, in others 
 streaks and spots, in others in the form of Chinese or Hindustanee 
 characters ; others again are freckled and blotched all over with 
 brown ; and some have the markings so thick at the larger end 
 that they blend into each and form a broad zone. Length, 
 2J inches; breadth, inches. 
 
 Some ornithologists believe that this and the foregoing species 
 are identical. However, their manners of nidification are difi 
 ferent. The former breeds in the tropical seas in May and J une, 
 and the latter in the colder regions of Tasmania and Southern 
 Australia in November and December. 
 
 603. Thalasseus BENGALENSis(me(im) — (Indian Tern). Locality 
 — North Australia '^Egg — Of a soft pinky-white tinge, moderately 
 spotted and freckled all over with markings of pinkish or reddish 
 brown, softened at the edges into a paler tint, also greyish spots 
 appearing under the shell's surface. Length, 2 inches ; breadth, 
 li®g to inches. 
 
 604. Sterna melanorhyncha {frontalis) — (Southern Tern)- 
 Locality — Australia, except West and Tasmania. Egg — Ground- 
 color olive-brown, blotched and marked all over, but particularly 
 at the larger end, with rich umber intermingled with obscure 
 markings of grey, the latter appearing as if beneath the surface of 
 the shell. Length, 1 inch 10 lines ; breadth, 1 inch lines. 
 
SWIMMERS. 
 
 r>7 
 
 605. Sterna GRACILIS (Graceful Tern). Locality — Queensland. 
 
 — Of the usual shape ; ground color, warm stone-grey, 
 
 spotted and blotched with dark sepia, also obscured greyish 
 markings underlying as if appearing under the surface of the shell. 
 Length, 1 inch 8 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 2 lines. 
 
 606. Sterna {Stermda) melanauchen — (Black-naped Tern). 
 Locality — North Australia, New South Wales, and New Guinea. 
 "^"^Egg — Ground-color, rich yellowish white, spotted and streaked 
 with brown of various shades up to nearly black, a few grey 
 markings appear under the shell’s surface, all the markings are 
 thicker near the top. Length, 1 inch 8 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 
 1 J lines. 
 
 607. Sternula nereis (mimita) — (Ternlet). Locality -Nio,- 
 toria. South and West Australia and Tasmania. Egg — Pale 
 stone-color, in some instances marked all over, but more thickly 
 at the larger end, with dark umber-brown ; in others very largely 
 blotched with the same color. Length, 1 inch 5 lines ; breadth, 
 1 inch. 
 
 — -. Sternula placens — (White-shafted Ternlet). Locality — 
 North Australia, Queensland, and New Guinea. "^Egg — Ground- 
 color delicate stone-grey, moderately marked all over with spots and 
 small markings of dark sepia or umber and bluish black, the latter 
 color underlying or appearing as if beneath the surface of the 
 shell. Length, 1 inch lines ; breadth, 1 inch ^ line. 
 
 Through the extreme kindness of Mr. E. L. Layard, Her 
 Britannic Majesty’s Consul,^ New Caledonia, the eggs of this lovely 
 Ternlet have removed a great desideratum in my collection. Mr. 
 Layard is an ardent and devoted disciple to Natural Science, and 
 his name is a household authority in many of its departments. 
 
 608. Gelochelidon macrotarsa — (Long-legged Tern). Lo- 
 cality — Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. Egg — 
 Prevailing tint, brownish buff or pale stoney-grey, marked with 
 large clouds of brownish red, softening occasionally into purplish 
 brown, and mingled with underlying blotches of purplish grey. 
 Length, 1 inch 10 lines; breadth, 1 inch 4 lines. (Legge.) 
 
 610. Hydrochelidon leucopareia (Jluviatilis) — (Marsh Tern). 
 Locality — Australia "^"^Egg — Similar to that of the European 
 variety, being of a beautiful warmish green, fairly distributed all 
 over, but particularly around the upper quarter, with spots and 
 blotches of umber, also some lighter markings appearing under 
 the shell’s surface. Length, 1 inch 6 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 
 1| lines. 
 
 Marsh Terns inhabit inland waters, and construct nests among 
 the rushes. The eggs here described were taken in the reedy 
 lagoons bordering the Murray. 
 
68 
 
 OOLOGY OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 611. Onychoprion {Hiliplana) fuliginosa — (Sooty Tern). 
 Locality — Australia and New Guinea. Eg^ — Ground-color, 
 creamy white, in some very pale, in others very rich, blotched all 
 over with irregular-sized markings of chestnut and dark brown, 
 the latter hue appearing as if beneath the surface ; the light- 
 colored eggs have these markings much smaller and more thinly 
 dispersed, except at the larger end. Length, 2 inches 1| lines; 
 breadth, 1 inch 6 lines. 
 
 612. Onychoprion {Haliplana) panayensis {ancestheta ) — 
 (Panayan Tern). Locality — Australia and New Guinea. Egg — 
 So similar in color to that of the Sooty Tern that the description 
 of one will answer for both, but it is considerably smaller in size. 
 Average length, 1 inch lines ; breadth, 1 inch lines. 
 
 613. Angus stolidus — (Noddy Teru). Locality — Australia. 
 Egg — Considerable variation is found to exist in the markings of 
 the eggs ; the greater number are of a cream-color, thinly sprinkled 
 all over, except at the larger end, where they become more 
 numerous and form an irregular zone, with blotches of chestnut 
 red and dark brown, the latter color appearing as if beneath the 
 surface of the shell ; but examples occur in which the markings 
 are more numerous and almost equally distributed over the 
 surface, while others are nearly pure white. Length, 2 inches ; 
 breadth, 1 inch 5 lines. 
 
 614. Angus melanops — (Lesser Noddy). Locality — Australia 
 and New Guinea. Egg — Pale stone or cream color, marked all 
 over with large, irregular-shaped blotches of dull chestnut-red and 
 dark brown, the latter appearing as if beneath the surface of the 
 shell ; the blotches are thinly dispersed except at the larger end, 
 where they are largest and most numerous. Length, 1 inch 
 9 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 3f lines. 
 
 615. Angus leucocapillas — (White-capped Noddy). Locality 
 — North Australia, Queensland, and New Guinea. ^^Egg — Large 
 for the size of the bird, and hardly to be distinguished from that 
 of the Sooty Tern or other Noddies. Ground-color, warm pinkish 
 white, blotched all over with irregular-sized markings of pinkish 
 and purplish red, the latter color underlying. Some specimens 
 are more thickly spotted, in others the markings appear smeared. 
 Eggs from Mr. Layard’s collection were taken on Norfolk Island. 
 Length, 2 inches 2 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 5 lines. 
 
 616. Procelsterna albivitta — (Grey Noddy). Locality — 
 North Australia and New South Wales. Egg — Oream-colored, 
 sparingly spotted, and dashed with reddish-brown and grey mark- 
 ings, the latter appearing to be beneath the surface. Length, 
 
 1 inch 7^ lines; breadth, 1 inch 3 lines, 
 
SWIMMERS. 
 
 69 
 
 Family — PROCELLARiDiE. — Petrels. 
 
 One egg, sometimes two, placed on the bare ground, or in under- 
 ground burrows on islands or headlands. 
 
 617. Diomedea EXULANS — (Wandering A^lbatross). Locality — 
 New South Wales, Yictoria, South and West Australia, and 
 Tasmania. E^g — Pure white and of the ordinary shape. Length, 
 4| to 5 inches ; breadth, 3^ inches. 
 
 • 
 
 623. Phgebetria fuliginosa — (Sooty Albatross). Locality — 
 New South Wales, Yictoria, South and West Australia, and 
 Tasmania. Egg — White. Length, 4i^e inches ; breadth, inches 
 (Layard). 
 
 624. Ossifraga gigantea — (Giant Petrel). Locality — New 
 South Wales, Yictoria, South and West Australia, and Tasmania. 
 Egg — Dirty white, rough. Length, 4^ inches ; breadth, 2]J inches 
 (Layard). 
 
 630. ^STRELATA LEUCOCEPHALA {Lcssoui) — (White-headed 
 Petrel). Locality — Australia, except North and Tasmania. 
 
 Egg — Pure white, nearly oval in shape, lower portion slightly 
 compressed. Texture of shell, fine and somewhat thin. Length, 
 2| inches ; breadth, 1| inches. 
 
 631. j®STRELATA MOLLIS — (Soft-plumage Petrel). Locality — 
 East coast of Australia (occasionally). ^"^Egg — Pure white, in 
 shape inclined to oval, apex rounded, smaller end pointed ; 
 although pitted all over with slight indentations, the surface of 
 the shell is smooth to the touch. Length, 2| inches ; breadth, 
 l\l inches. 
 
 For the addition to my collection of this and the foregoing 
 exceeding rare Petrels’ eggs, I am indebted to Mr. Layard. The 
 former was taken on Uen Island, the latter on Mount Moa, New 
 Caledonia. 
 
 635. Puffings nugax (assimilis) — (Allied Petrel). Locality — 
 Queensland, New South Wales, Yictoria, and South Australia. 
 Egg — Snow-white. Length, 2 inches ; breadth, inches. 
 
 636. Nectris (*?) BREViCAUDUS — (Short-tailed Petrel). Locality 
 — Australia, except North and Tasmania. Egg — Snow-white, 
 and large for the size of the bird. Length, 2| inches ; breadth, 
 
 inches. 
 
 637. Nectris {Puffinus) carneipes — (Fleshy-footed Petrel). 
 Locality — West Australia and New Guinea. Egg — White, 
 Length, 2| inches ; breadth, nearly 2 inches. 
 
 638. Puffinus sphenurus — (Wedge-tailed Petrel). Locality 
 — Australia, except North. Egg — White. Length, 2| inches 
 breadth, 1 J inches. 
 
70 
 
 OOLOGY OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 644. Prion vittatus — (Broad-billed Prion). Locality — Aus- 
 tralia, except North and Tasmania. Egg — Pure white, some- 
 what lengthened in form. Length, 2 inches ; breadth, inches. 
 
 645. Procellaria nereis — (Grey-backed Storm Petrel). 
 Locality — Australia, except North and Tasmania. "^"^Egg — 
 White, somewhat oval, and, like most Petrels’ eggs, of an oily 
 smell. Length, 1 inch 4|- lines ; breadth, 1 inch line. 
 
 This and the sua3eeding Storm Petrels’ eggs were taken in 
 burrows on small islands off the Victorian coast. 
 
 647. Freoetta melanogaster — (Black-bellied Storm Petrel). 
 Locality — Australia, except North and Tasmania. * Egg — 
 White. Length, 1 inch 6 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 3 lines. 
 
 649. Pelagodroma fregata — (White-faced Storm Petrel). 
 Locality — Victoria, South and West Australia. Egg — Pure 
 white. Length, 1 inch 6 lines ; breadth, 1 inch lines. 
 
 — . Majaqueus parkinsoni. Locality — East coast of Aus- 
 tralia. Egg — White. Length, 2 inches 10 J lines ; breadth, 
 2 inches. (Hutton.) 
 
 Family — Pelecanid^e. — Pelicans, Cormorants, &c. 
 
 Nests constructed of sticks, herbage or sea-weed placed on trees, 
 shrubs, or on ledges of rock. Clutch, one to four eggs. 
 
 651. Pelecanus ( Gatoptroj)eticanus) conspicillatus — (Aus- 
 tralian Pelican). Locality — Australia, Tasmania, and New 
 Guinea. Egg — Dirty yellowish- white ; surface of shell, limey. 
 Length, 3| inches ; breadth, 2f inches. 
 
 652. Phalacrocorax {Graculus) NOViE-HOLLANDi.® — (Aus- 
 tralian Cormorant). Locality — Australia and Tasmania. Egg — 
 Bluish- white, limey surface. Length, 2^ inches ; breadth, 1^ 
 inches. 
 
 653. Phalacrocorax {Hypoleucus) varius — (Pied Cormorant.) 
 Locality — Australia, except North. Egg — Bluish- white, with a 
 light coating of lime. Length, 2^ inches; breadth, 11 inches. 
 
 654. Phalacrocorax {Hypoleucus) leucogaster — (White- 
 breasted Cormorant). Locality — Australia, except North and 
 West and Tasmania. ^’^Egg — Specimens taken from a nursery 
 on Waterhouse Island, off the Tasmanian coast, were oval, coated 
 with lime, and dimensions about 2| by inches. 
 
 655. Phalacrocorax (Microcarbo) melanoleucus — (Little 
 Cormorant). Locality — Australia, except North and Tasmania. 
 ^"^Egg — Long oval, bluish white and coated with lime. Length, 
 1 inch 1 1 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 3 lines. 
 
SWIMMERS. 
 
 71 
 
 656. Phalacrocorax {Microcarho) stictocephalus — (Little 
 Black Cormorant). Locality — Australia, except North. ^^Egg 
 — Bluish- white, with a light coating of lime. Length, 2 inches 
 2 lines ; breadth, 1 inch lines. 
 
 657. Plotus NOViE-HOLLANDiiE— (New Holland Darter). Lo- 
 cality — Australia and New Guinea, ^gg — Dirty- white, limey 
 shell, lining membrane bluish-grey. Length, 2| inchs ; breadth, 
 
 inches. 
 
 658. Tachypetes {Atagen) aquila — (Great Frigate-bird). 
 Locality — North Australia and New Guinea. Egg — Rather 
 oval, and both ends nearly alike in shape, pure chalky white, 
 thin shell. Length, 2§ inches ; breadth, 1| inches. 
 
 659. Tachypetes {Atagen) minor — (Small Frigate-bird). 
 Locality — North Australia, Queensland, and New Guinea. 
 *^Egg — Of similar character and shape to T. aqnila. Length, 
 2| inches ; breadth, 1| inches. 
 
 661. Sul A australis {serrator) — (Australian Gannet). Lo- 
 cality — Australia and Tasmania. ^Egg — Long in shape, shell 
 bluish-white, coarse and heavily coated with lime, which is 
 frequently stained with dirt. Length, 3 inches ; breadth, I| 
 inches. 
 
 662. SuLA CYANOPS — (Masked Gannet). Locality — Australia, 
 except West. Egg — Rather lengthened in form, dirty- white, 
 stained or clouded all over with reddish-brown. Length, 2| 
 inches; breadth. If inches. 
 
 663. SuLA FIBER — (Brown Gannet). Locality — North Aus- 
 tralia and New Guinea. Egg — White, and sometimes stained 
 with dirt, thickly coated with lime, which on being scraped off 
 reveals a bluish- white shell. The size varies considerably. Length 
 in inches 2^^ (largest), 22 ® (smallest), 2| (average) ; breadth in 
 inches I /2 (largest), lH (smallest). If (average). 
 
 664. SuLA (Piscatrix) piscator (Red-legged Gannet). Locality 
 — North Australia and New Guinea. ^Egg — An ellipse in 
 shape, dirt-stained white, coated with lime. Length, 2| inches ; 
 breadth, inches. 
 
 Family — PnAETONTiDiE. — Tropic-birds. 
 
 Two eggs, placed on the bare floor in holes under rocks bordering 
 the beach. 
 
 — . Phaeton {Fhoenicitrus) iETHEREUs-— (White-tailed Tropic- 
 bird). Locality — North Australia, Queensland, and New Guinea. 
 '^Egg — Shell rough in texture, moderately marked with roundish 
 spots and blotches of purplish brown on a whitish ground. 
 Length, 2f inches ; breadth, inches. 
 
72 
 
 OOLOGY OF AUSTKALIAN BIRDS. 
 
 660. Phaeton {Phoenicurus) rubricauda — (Red-tailed Tropic- 
 bird). Locality — North Australia, Queensland, New South 
 Wales, and New Guinea. Egg — Ground-color, pinkish-grey, 
 mottled or marbled (like a Falcon’s egg) over the whole of the 
 surface with purplish or pinkish red. Length, 2 J inches ; breadth. 
 If inches. 
 
 Family — PoDiciPiDiE. — Grebes. 
 
 Nests, which float on lagoons, are constructed of aquatic plants. 
 Clutch, four eggs. 
 
 665. PoDiCEPS AUSTRALIS — (Australian Tippet Grebe). Lo- 
 cality — Australia, except North and West and Tasmania. Egg — 
 At first, greenish-white, then yellowish-brown. Length, nearly 
 2f inches ; breadth, 1| inches. (Hutton). 
 
 666. PoDiCEPS (Poliocephalus) nestor — (Hoary-headed Grebe). 
 Locality — Australia, except North and West and Tasmania. 
 "^Egg — Dirty greenish-white, surface lumpy and irregular. 
 Length, 1 inch 7 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 1 line. 
 
 667. PoDiCEPS {Sylheocyclus) gularis (JLovce ffollandice) — 
 (Black-throated Grebe). Locality — Australia, except West and 
 Tasmania. ^^Egg — Bluish-white, but often uniformly stained 
 over with a shiny raw sienna color, and sometimes with umber. 
 Length, 1 inch 5 lines ; breadth, 1 inch. 
 
 Family — Spheniscid^e. — Penguins. 
 
 Two eggs, placed under shelving rocks or in holes in the ground 
 on headlands or islands. 
 
 669. Eudyptula minor — (Little Penguin). Locality — New 
 South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania E^g — 
 White, dumpy in form, smaller end somewhat sharp. Length, 
 2 inches 3 lines ; breadth, 1 inch 9 lines. 
 
 670. Eudyptula undina — (Fairy Penguin). Locality— Vic - 
 toria and Tasmania. "^Egg — White, similar in form to E. minor. 
 Length, 2 inches lines ; breadth, 1 inch lines. 
 
ADDENDA. 
 
 48. Eurostopodus Albogulaeis — (Wliite-thrcated Nightjar.) 
 Locality — Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South 
 Australia. Ligg — Shape nearly true oval, but a little larger in 
 size and darker in color than that of the other species {E 
 giittatus). Ground color of a beautiful rich cream or stone-color, 
 like that of a Teaks egg, with, here and there, roundish spots and 
 blotches of dark purple. Texture of shell, close and fine ; sur- 
 face, somewhat glossy. An egg taken in the month of January 
 on the bare ground in a thick foiest of Gippsland measured 1 inch 
 7 lines by 1 inch 1| lines. 
 
 To Localites add South Australia in Nos. 7, 124, 161, 194, 202 
 237, 275. 
 
 CORRIGENDA. 
 
 No. 24 9 — add Tasmania to locality instead of No. 253. 
 
 Page 41, sixth line, read scales instead of seals, 
 
 • :o: 
 
 MEMORANDUM. 
 
 An apology is due to my subscribers for the extraordinary" 
 delay in the publication of this little work. The delay, which 
 arose from circumstances over which I had no control, I think will 
 not detract from the interest taken by them in the subject, nor 
 will the value of the work as an oological reference be impaired. 
 Moreover, I have been enabled to embody additional descriptions 
 of new eggs and other interesting information. The total number 
 of eggs now described is 433. 
 
 A. J. C. 
 
 Printed by J. Wing, “ Southern Science Record ” Office, 33 Wellington st., 
 Collingwood. 
 
SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING 
 
 Near Melbourne, Thirteen Years A^v. 
 
 Our bird-nesting party consisted of a quartett known as the 
 ‘‘ Bunyips,” and each Bunyip had a speciiic sobriquet — “ Bandy, 
 ‘^Skinny,” ‘‘Beaky” (your humble servant), and “Chicken” 
 (my brother). Our attire was, of course, of tlie roughest description, 
 and our accoutrements consisted of a coil of good Manilla rope, 
 a sharp tomahawk, a long-handled spoon (for procuring eggs out 
 of holes), and the inevitable “ billy ” and “ tucker,” besides each 
 a collecting tin, a few pins and matches, not to indulge in a pipe 
 (we were all non-smokers), but to smoke out any unfortunate 
 rabbit or native cat that our faithful black retriever should 
 chance to scent out. 
 
 Our “ Bunyip ” Club was instituted for two objects. First, to 
 determine and observe the habits of various birds in our neigh- 
 bourhood, with respect to their nidification, structure and 
 locality of nests, shape and color of eggs, &o. Second, the 
 amount of field exercise this would involve would be conducive 
 to the health of both mind and body. 
 
 It would be beyond the province of this paper were I to go 
 into details of the very many localities visited, the numerous 
 interesting facts relative to the birds, nests, and eggs, and some 
 amusing anecdotes attached thereto. Therefore I will content 
 myself by feebly endeavoring to mention a few of our more 
 favorite hunting localities, and the principal specimens we 
 found. 
 
 Away we started one day for the junction of Gardiner’s Creek 
 with the river Yarra via Toorak and the river bank. We had 
 hardly reached “ Como,” just on the western side of Toorak, when 
 in a paddock hard by we discovered a Sacred Kingfisher’s iiest, 
 containing four round white eggs, which were obtained with the 
 aid of our spoon from a hollow in the bowl of a gum-tree. We 
 had just finished blowing the eggs when one of us climbed a 
 neighbouring tree, a large red-gum, and secured from its many 
 holes and hollows a number of the eggs of the Tree Swallow, 
 Here the tomahawk came into operation to chop holes large 
 
11 . 
 
 SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. 
 
 enough to admit the hand. The eggs were white, sometimes 
 with a few chestnut spots on the larger end. In the adjoining 
 paddock we found a couple of nests of Brown Flycatchers, 
 neatly constructed of hair, carefully situated in the fork of an 
 overhanging branch of a wattle tree. Each was occupied by 
 two eggs, of a pale bluish green color, with a belt of chestnut 
 brown spots near the centre. On the very topmast prongs of 
 other wattle trees were discovered the somewhat rare nests of 
 the White-shouldered Campephaga. They were very small in 
 comparison with the size of the birds, and were made of dried 
 chick weed,” being open-mouthed. The eggs were three, of a 
 beautiful light green, covered with rich chestnut markings. At 
 this stage of affairs we were menaced by a batch of young ladies 
 with long sticks in hand, with which they threatened to belabour 
 us, then prosecute us for trespassing, if we did not decamp at 
 once. We “made tracks” accordingly, not wishing to be “smitten” 
 by such “ angelic beauties.” Presently we came to the swamp at 
 the bottom of “ Como;” off boots, tucked up trousers and waded in ; 
 soon found half a dozen Heed Warblers’ nests, skilfully fastened be- 
 tween reeds or flags, with each three or four greyish mottled eggs ; 
 likewise a nest of the Little Grass-Bird, warmly lined with soft 
 feathers, two of which were larger than the others, and met over 
 the opening above the mouth of the nest, to keep out the rain. 
 The eggs were beautiful, three in number, and pink speckled. 
 Between a clump of ti-trees, near the root, constructed of dried 
 reeds, &c., was found the nest of the Black -backed Porphyrio. 
 The five eggs were dirty white, sprinkled with umber-brown 
 spots. Having carefully searched the swamp, we proceeded up 
 the river. On a willow overhanging the stream a Black Fantail’s 
 neat nest, with its delicate-colored eggs, was taken. While robbing 
 this nest an Azure Kingfisher was observed to dart from beneath 
 the overhanging bank, and unmistakeably proved by its move- 
 ments it possessed a nest in that spot. Following up a little 
 hole by digging brought us to seven round pearly-white eggs. A 
 rotten stump projected out over the river, from the extremity of 
 which “ Bandy ” was perched to superintend the digging out 
 operation, when suddenly his platform snapped, and he received 
 an impromptu bath ; being an excellent swimmer he soon 
 regained the shore. We lighted a fire to have some “tucker” 
 and dry his clothes. On advancing by-and-bye a pair of Magpie 
 Larks came wailing and darting overhead, thereby quickly 
 betraying their nest, built like a large bowl of mud, lined with 
 grass. It was situated near the end of a tapering limb of a huge 
 red-gum that nearly spanned the river. At this stage our rope 
 was requisite to haul “ Skinny” up to the nearest bough, from 
 whence, with much difficulty, he reached the one on which was 
 fixed the nest. As he crawled along the limb it gradually com- 
 menced to bend. We below stood breathless, and the limb now 
 
SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. 
 
 111 . 
 
 seemed bent to its uttermost without l)reaking, wliile he just 
 gained the nest. I believe another ounce weight would have precipi- 
 tated “ Skinny,” nest, and limb into the running torrent beneath. 
 The nest contained three white eggs, rather peaked towards the 
 smaller end, and prettily freckled with pinkish red on the larger. 
 Now, behind Government House, where we took some Red-eye- 
 browed Finches, oblong-shaped grass nests, with long-mouthed 
 entrances. They each contained from four to seven pure white 
 eggs. With great delight we found hanging in a ti-tree a 
 Grey-backed Zosterop’s nest, occupied by three blue eggs. This is 
 the only Australian genus of Passeres known which lays uniform 
 bluish eggs. But most unfortunately these just mentioned were 
 too far hatched to be blown. Chicken ” found another rare 
 specimen — White-frontal Sericornis. It was dome-shaped, and 
 constructed of dried leaves and grass in a depression in the 
 ground, behind a stump or stone, and contained three purplish 
 mottled eggs. We reached the junction of Gardiner’s Creek, had 
 a swim, which was somewhat cold, but, nevertheless, refreshing, 
 and returned home. 
 
 The next Saturday was a cold, miserable, bleak day. The wind 
 was from the S.W., with occasional gusts of rain and hail. 
 Camberwell was our destination. We proceeded along High- 
 street road for about four miles, till we gained the first creek. 
 In wandering through the scrub bordering it we flushed a Yellow- 
 faced Honey-eater from its neatly-made nest of moss and hair, 
 suspended by the rim to a branch of ti-tree. It •contained three 
 longish eggs, flesh-colored, and spotted with brown. On emerg- 
 ing from the scrub we espied a horse with bridle and saddle on, 
 but apparently minus an owner. Here, we thought, was a good 
 chance for a little equestrian exercise, and each had a capital 
 ride round the paddock, but just as the last was dismounting a 
 man appeared on the scene, and gave hot pursuit. Trusting to 
 our younger legs, we made straight up hill, and thereby soon 
 distanced him. After wandering from paddock to paddock a 
 New South Wales Oriole’s nest was found. It was cup-shaped, 
 composed of stringy-bark, suspended by its rim to the end of a 
 hanging gum-bough, in quite an unprotected situation. In it 
 were four cream-colored eggs, blotched with umber of different 
 shades. Accompanying this set was the egg of the Pallid Cuckoo, 
 being about half the size of the foster-bird’s eggs and of a uniform 
 pinkish tint — a beautiful specimen. Then was taken in a low 
 stringy-bark tree a nest of a Grey Crow-shrike, with a clutch of 
 mottled wood-like brown colored eggs. The owner is about the 
 size of the Common Magpie, but taking the circumference of its 
 nest, made of sticks, it would comfortably accommodate an Emu. 
 After closing our hunt with a Wattle-bird’s nest, with its pair of 
 common yet beautiful salmon-colored eggs, we turned in the 
 
IV. 
 
 SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. 
 
 direction of home. We swam a creek which had been consider- 
 ably swollen by the late heavy rains. The current was so rapid 
 that it carried us about 100 yards down stream before we gained 
 the opposite bank. This mode of swimming being a novelty to us, 
 we several times repeated the performance. We struck the road, 
 along which we ran about four miles, without stopping, against 
 a driving rain in some 26 or 27 minutes. 
 
 Another day we went to the Caulfield and Oakleigh district. 
 There was never a lovelier spring day ; pen, pencil, or language 
 would signally fail to picture it. In every paddock the eye 
 met millions of vernal flowers of every variety of hue peeping 
 through the rich sprouting grass, and the heaths were decorated 
 in their choicest bloom, which sent forth a fragrant perfume from 
 stock and stem as well as flower. Even the foliage of the ever- 
 lasting gum-tree, with its opening blossom, among which various 
 Honey-eaters chirped, looked fresher than was want, and under 
 its grateful shade the cattle were in quiet repose. In a 
 neighboring cultivation paddock might be seen the sturdy farmer 
 tilling the soil, with the pretty little Robins darting to and fro to 
 catch the newly-unearthed worms that the friendly ploughshare 
 might perchance turn-up. A beautiful clear and fresh atmosphere, 
 with a cloudless sky, lent the scene an additional charm, and all 
 things, animate and inanimate, seemed happy and working in 
 perfect harmony, evincing the handiwork of the God of Nature 
 — their Great Creator. 
 
 We had not reached Malvern before we killed a medium-sized 
 brown snake. A couple of miles brought us to the paddocks 
 behind the Race-course Hotel, Caulfield. Here a bit of an 
 adventure occurred. One of the paddocks was used as an accom- 
 modation for cattle from Gippsland for the Melbourne markets. 
 This day, however, it was only occupied by a solitary bullock, 
 and as he appeared quiet, and near the further fence, we took no 
 heed. But when we had reached the centre of the paddock the 
 animal showed a fierce pair of eye-balls, and with tail erect made 
 straight for us. Alas ! the poor ‘‘ Bunyips’’ dreadfully realized 
 that a mad bullock was about to rudely scatter them. And they 
 did scatter right and left, but as fortune would have it the 
 bullock made for Bandy,’’ the only one who carried a gun. He, 
 with great presence of mind, at a few yards, received the enemy 
 with a charge of pigeon shot full in the face, Avhich caused the 
 beast to fall on his haunches, and beat a hasty but short retreat, 
 and when he had gained himself we had regained the fence. 
 
 On the sunny side of prickly acacia hedges we found numerous 
 nests of Tomtits or Yellow-tailed acanthizas. They are neat, 
 dome-like structures, composed of grass, spiders’ nests, and 
 lichens, warmly feathered, with a small side entrance, also with 
 a kind of double nest on top for the cock-bird to roost in by 
 
SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. 
 
 V. 
 
 night, or whistle to his mate by day. The Tomtit lays three 
 pure white eggs. These nests are often the repository of a 
 single egg of the Bronze Cuckoo. That of the Thick-billed Bronze 
 Cuckoo resembles a little brown pebble ; that of the Narrow-billed 
 is white, speckled with pinkish red. 
 
 We crossed the Dandenong road, and entered Peekes paddock. 
 From the top of a small sapling we took the nest of the Spotted 
 sided Finch, containing four longish white eggs. The nest, like 
 those of most finches, was composed of grass, dome-shaped, with 
 a tunnel entrance. Next, in a thick fork of a gum, we took a 
 Warty-faced Honey-eater’s open-mouthed nest, made of strips of 
 stringy bark, and lined inside with finer fibres. The two eggs 
 were of a rich salmon color, with a zone of spots at the larger 
 end. In the hole of another tree we took four roundish white 
 eggs of the Striated Diamond-bird. We passed through a couple 
 of paddocks, in one of which I chopped in two, with a tomahawk, 
 a black snake, in the act of swallowing a large green frog, which 
 was all slimed over. We reached what was locally known as the 
 Bronze-wing paddock. Here we obtained a Bronze-wing’s and a 
 Podargus or Mopoke’s nest. Both were carelessly constructed of 
 a few twigs, just sufficient to ensure the safety of the white eggs, 
 and placed in forks of horizontal limbs. The larger ^nd warmer 
 nest of the Magpie was next descried. It was occupied with a 
 clutch of four well-known eggs. Just leaving the paddock, we 
 took the somewhat rare nest of the Black -faced Graucalus, a tough 
 structure of cobwebs, ifec., fixed in a forked bough. The three eggs 
 were of a beautiful dark green, blotched with umber-colored spots. 
 In an adjoining enclosure, a more scrubby one, our black dog 
 started a rabbit, which took to a hollow log. It was unfortunate 
 sport for poor puss, because we smoked her out and the dog killed 
 her. We canned her furry carcase home, and it made a capital, 
 although small, pie. From the end of a wattle branch we robbed 
 a Lunulated Honey-eater’s nest of its lovely little buff-colored eggs, 
 prettily spotted on the top. In a shady nook, on the side of a 
 hill, cunningly hid among the trees, I found, the model-shaped nest 
 of the Scarlet-breasted Bobin, open-mouthed, nicely fashioned of 
 bark, moss and lichen, the latter material so closely assimilating 
 to the bark of the tree that detection of the nest is difficult. This 
 was warmly lined with ’possum fur, and contained three light 
 grey eggs, freckled with pepper-colored spots. From the fork of 
 a high tree out flew a screeching Butcher-bird from its nest, made 
 of twigs, and containing four dull-colored eggs. As the day was 
 now far spent, we made “ tracks ” homeward. Taking a short 
 cut through an old cultivation ground, we discovered that a dock 
 of domestic ducks had deposited promiscuously over the ground 
 about two dozen eggs. We had good fun in scrambling for them, 
 and thought it a good finish to our day’s “ egging.” N.B. — They 
 went very “ high ” for supper that night, 
 
vi. 
 
 SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. 
 
 One Saturday, being late in leaving town, we resolved to search 
 Albert Park, as we could not undertake a long tramp within what 
 remained of daylight. We had hardly cleared the fence, when 
 out from our very feet darted an Australian Pipit or ground- 
 lark, and a few yards further on a Skylark went sweetly 
 singing into the air. Both nests were composed of dry grass, 
 built in a depression in the ground behind a tuft of grass. The 
 former contained three eggs of an earthy color ; the other had 
 four, thickly spotted with bright red. In a wattle branch hung 
 the neat little nest of the White-plumed Honey-eater, with three 
 fleshy-colored eggs, freckled with chestnut. Then, at the top of a 
 bending sapling, we took the exceedingly rare and tough nest of 
 the Frontal Shrike Tit, containing two pearl-like eggs, with a few 
 black dots onthe round end. We dispossessed three species of Wood- 
 Swallows of their temporary homes: the Common, the White-eye- 
 browed, arid the Masked. These eggs are so much alike in shape, 
 size, and color, that it is difficult to determine the parents without 
 seeing them on the nest. Those of the same species also vary consider- 
 ably, but generally are of a lightish color, mottled or clouded with 
 umber, chestnut, &c. Burr-r-r-r flashed a Painted Quail from its 
 nest in some long kangaroo grass, where were deposited a clutch 
 of four pepper and salt-colored eggs. 
 
 Crossing the swamp towards the sea-beach, one of us was 
 attracted by a bunch of dried reeds floating upon the surface of 
 the water ; he carelessly knocked the top off with his stick, and to 
 our great astonishment exposed two dirty cream-colored eggs, which 
 proved to be those of the Black-throated Grebe. Out of the reeds, 
 on a little island close by, flew a frightened black duck. We 
 abstracted ten eggs from its warm downy nest. On the sea beach, 
 about thirty yards from high-water mark, we found several pairs 
 of Ped-capped Dottril’s eggs. There is no nest, and the eggs 
 so closely resemlfle in color the sand that only keen eyes can 
 discover them. Beturning through a small belt of dwarf scrub, a bird 
 flew out feigning a broken wing, then lay on the ground as if in a 
 fit, and tried to decoy us after it. Poor little thing ! it was a 
 White-fronted Ephthianura. But we knew too much for it, for 
 carefully imbedded in the heart of the handy bush, we found its 
 nest, with three reddish-spotted eggs. 
 
 On the Prince of Wales’ Birthday, at 4 o’clock in the morning, 
 we set out on foot for the Dandenong Ranges. As we ^‘pegged” out 
 about four miles per hour it was delightful to watch the gradual 
 break of day. The fast waning moon and the bright morning 
 star gave the eastern sky an additional charm. When we gained 
 the other side of the old Gardiner Hotel we overtook a spring 
 cart drawn by a young restive colt. In the vehicle was seated 
 a little boy, crying bitterly. On questioning him, he said his 
 father had got drunk and was locked up, and begged us to take 
 
SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. 
 
 Vll. 
 
 him to his home at Oakleigh, because he felt frightened and 
 could not manage the horse. We took compassion on the lad 
 and conveyed him, his horse, and trap safely home, and presented 
 them to his mother, at the same time placing before her the 
 position of affairs ; but to our intense surprise, instead of express- 
 ing gratitude for our kindness and trouble, she scattered us with 
 a huge broom-stick, informing us that in future we had better 
 mind our own business. 
 
 On the fall of Stott’s Hil], appoaching the Dandenong Creek, we 
 were attracted by a Laughing Jackass or Great Brown Kingfisher, 
 flying from a hole in an overhanging tree. One of us joyfully 
 ascended, only to be disappointed by finding a couple of half- 
 fledged young ones instead of round white eggs. Shortly after 9 
 o’clock, we reached the base of the ranges ; soon made a blazing 
 fire, boiled the billy” and had some “tucker.” Wandering 
 down a flat by myself, I discovered what I considered a beau ideal 
 nest and eggs, which proved to be those of the Yellow- breasted 
 Bobin. The nest was cup-shaped, and exquisitely made, formed 
 of bark and grass, inlaid with small gum leaves, and lined around 
 the mouth with moss and lichen. It contained three beautiful apple- 
 green eggs, spotted at the larger end with brown. I took another 
 elegant nest, that of the White-shafted Fantail, a very small, com- 
 pact piece of work of cobwebs, built in the shape of a wineglass, 
 and placed on a single horizontal branch, the handle-like appen- 
 dage hanging underneath. The cream-colored eggs, with chestnut 
 markings, were three in number. The birds were remarkably 
 tame, and the hen had literally to be pulled off the nest by the 
 tail before she would quit. I was then joined by the rest of the 
 party. We killed a large black snake, out of which we took 
 thirteen eggs. Shortly afterwards, secretly placed in a bush near 
 a watercourse, I espied a White-throated Thickhead, with its lovely 
 lemon-colored breast, buried in a grass-made nest. When flushed, 
 two yellowish white eggs, with darker spots about the apex, were 
 revealed. 
 
 On a mountain’s side, the peculiar vocality of a pair of Friar Birds 
 or Leather-heads betrayed a home in the neighbourhood, but as they 
 confront enemies a long way from their nest we had to exercise con- 
 siderable diligence and perseverance to discover it. The nest was 
 made of strips of bark, and lined with grass, and attached to the 
 end of a pendulant gum branch. The eggs, two in number, like 
 nearly all Honey-eaters’ (of which one-tenth of the Victorian birds 
 consist), were of a fleshy or buff color ; only in this species the 
 spots are fainter and smaller. 
 
 It was about noon when we took a trip half-way up the moun- 
 tains to what is locally known as “ the grave.” On returning, 
 mid-way between that spot and our cam]3, we were accosted by a 
 party of lady and gentlemen picnickers. Of course, we replied to 
 their “ Good-dav.” and pulled off our slouchinsf hats One 
 
SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. 
 
 viii. 
 
 gentleman, with a pretty dark girl leaning on his arm, said in a 
 jocular style, ‘‘You will find plenty to eat down there ; just 
 help yourselves.’^ “ With a hook,” replied one of us. Another, 
 “ You don’t catch this colonial.” The gentleman laughed and 
 repeated his statement, adding — “ See that the horses are all right 
 first.” Still thinking he was poking fun, we said “ Good-morrow,” 
 and pushed on. Feeling the pangs of hunger acutely, which the 
 pure mountain air and ozone had sharpened, we hastened our 
 downward steps, when, to our great surprise, on rounding a sharp 
 bend in the track, what did we behold ? O, for fifty appetites ! 
 Laid out on the green sward was a large tablecloth strewn with 
 ham, chicken, roast duck, &c., and all sorts of pastry ; and in a 
 case close by were lemonade, wines and spirits. Now we realized 
 we had been too “ cheeky ” to our generous friends. First, as 
 they requested, we saw that the horses were all right ; they were 
 quietly munching behind a dead stump. Then we proceeded to 
 business, and it is almost superfiuous to add the stereotyped 
 phrase that “we did ample justice to the good things,” more 
 especially as we were awfully hungry. When the good folks 
 returned I suppose they would say, what an old Scotchman once 
 said of us, “ Hey, mun, they’s got terrible pooches.” 
 
 On returning near our camp “ Chicken ” found in some under- 
 growth a Blue Wren’s nest, wonderfully made of skeleton gum or 
 eucalypt leaves, the vegetable matter having been rotted olf them 
 by the action of water, the fibres only remaining. “ Chicken” 
 said the nest contained four eggs, but on further examination we 
 could only find two, and told him he must have seen “ double.” 
 He made matters worse by voluntarily stating he had nothing to 
 drink at the “ spread ” up the track. 
 
 We arrived home safely about 8 o’clock in the evening, sixteen 
 hours after we started, during which time w^e computed we did 
 48 miles walking, that is, 21 miles each way to the ranges and 
 back, and six miles about the gullies, &c. 
 
 One day, late in November, two of us “made tracks,” as our 
 American cousins say, to the Werribee river, in the vicinity of 
 Messrs. Chirnside’s run, where we succeeded in adding two 
 valuable species to our collection, one being the Fairy Martin. These 
 interesting little creatures nest in families of about ten to twenty 
 on the face of the steep cliffs that overhang the river. The nests 
 are of mud, champagne-bottle shaped, either built singly, or two 
 or three conjoined about the shoulder, but each with a separate 
 neck. The inside is furnished with grass, and each one has three 
 or four white eggs, sometimes slightly spotted. Some of the nests 
 were tenanted by those troublesome immigrants the Sparrows, 
 who either occupied old nests or more jDrobably dispossessed the 
 rightful owners of their new ones. The other was a small hawk 
 or Nankeen Kestrel’s. On the brow of a gfreat red cl iff. aMut 
 
SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. 
 
 IX. 
 
 twenty or thirty feet high, the bird flew out of an aperture, where 
 we were convinced it possessed a nest, but how to gain the coveted 
 prize was no small difficulty. I succeeded in climbing so far 
 when a treacherous piece of earth gave way, causing me to descend 
 more quickly than I ascended, and landing me on the broad of 
 my back in the river, to the intense amusement of my friend. 
 However, I splashed out as best I could, and travelled down 
 stream and brought up a couple of long dead saplings, and with 
 the aid of my friend, who had more pluck than I (mine having 
 been damped), after two or three sensational attempts, reached 
 the crevice in the cliff, where, on the fine dirt, lay four dumpy eggs, 
 blotched or clouded all over with chestnut-red. Situated on the 
 top of a large ti-tree I observed a Orow’s nest. On climbing up 
 to and peering into it, I was saluted by a pair of big young ones 
 with wide-extended red gapes. To complete our day^s adventures, 
 shortly after leaving the Werribee railway station, our carriage, 
 which was at the tail end of the train, by some unaccountable 
 manner, ran off the line, tearing up ground and sleepers for about 
 fifty yards, and all but capsized. To make the confusion worse, 
 it was dark, and there were no lights in the carriage, which was 
 full of passengers. Some of the weaker sex shrieked out, but, as 
 my companion remarked to me afterwards, my only care during 
 the fracas was the safety of my new- taken hawk’s eggs, which 
 were carefully placed in a billy ” under the seat. After a 
 detention of a few hours, until the next train arrived from Geelong, 
 we finished our journey without further hindrance. 
 
 OUR FIRST OAMP OUT. 
 
 It was approaching Christmas, 1869, when we were preparing 
 for our first camp out. Our party consisted of the original 
 ‘‘ Bunyips,” with our ever faithful dog Flora. We decided that 
 Ferntree Gully, in the Dandenong Ranges, should be the scene of 
 our first camping operations. The ranges are situated about 
 twenty-five miles due east of Melbourne. Weeks before Christmas 
 our conversation was nothing but about the gully, and the long 
 days passed away as if they were months. At last the appointed 
 time to start came — Christmas Eve. The rendezvous was at my 
 place, Malvern. We started about half-past 7 o’clock (of course 
 on foot) with our necessary swags, &c., for three days out. We 
 were all new chums, so to speak, at camping out, and some of our 
 swags were unnecessarily large, and had a regular new chum’s 
 set ” on them. Spanking along at the rate of four miles an hour 
 on the Dandenong-road, we soon reached Oakleigh, where we left the 
 main road on our right to take the Gully road. Nothing particular 
 occurred till we arrived at the Cheshire Cheese Hotel, about a mile 
 and a half on this side of the Dandenong Creek, and seven miles 
 from Oakleigh. Here a slight, and what might have been a serious. 
 
X. 
 
 SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD NESTING. 
 
 fracas took place. One of our party asked for a drink of water, when 
 a drunken man came out and made some insulting remarks to him. 
 On being remonstrated with by us, he said his pugilistic capabili- 
 ties were such that he would fight any one of us. Accordingly 
 he made a vicious drive at Chicken, when Skinny rushed between 
 them aud tripped the drunken chap up, which caused him to 
 plough up the road and dust for some five yards or so, very much 
 to the amusement of some wood jammers/^ who had by this 
 time collected. The chap recovered himself, and made a blow at 
 Bandy, who dodged it. Again he made another, when Bandy 
 presented the muzzle of his gun in his teeth, and threatened to 
 shove it down his throat if he did not desist ; whereupon the 
 fellow said, “Is it guns you mean ? All right ; 111 meet you with 
 a gun,” and staggered back into the hotel. Now we thought it 
 high time to make tracks, and hardly did we get a hundred yards 
 up the road, when he followed us with a loaded rifie, and fired. 
 The ball whizzed past in close proximity to our heads. In case 
 he should fire again, we turned sharply off the road into the bush, 
 and ran in for some short distance, our enemy still pursuing us. 
 At this stage we deemed it advisable to plant amongst the trees. 
 He energetically searched for us for some time, and he brushed 
 just past us ; but, being unsuccessful, he eventually abandoned 
 the project with sundry oaths. When the villain was gone 
 we reconnoitred, and thought it best not to attempt to regain 
 the road until morning, as we did not know its exact position, 
 having in the excitement of the chase turned this way and that. 
 There we were, a pretty quartett, sitting in a row on a log, like 
 so many Podarguses, some leaning on their guns, with their swags 
 carelessly thrown on the ground before them ; another in deep 
 meditation watching the moon, which had just risen over the tops 
 of the distant trees, with its pale silvery light struggling through 
 the clouds \ while the night was still. Not even a breeze shuffled 
 the leaves. For the first time in our lives did we experience the 
 stillness of an Australian forest, the stillness only being broken 
 by the distant and mournful note of the Mopoke, or the more 
 melancholy note of the Ourlew. We did not remain in that posi- 
 tion long, but lay down under a large gum-tree, and were soon 
 asleep. Long before daybreak we heard the welcome laugh of 
 the Jackass, which was quickly followed by the Magpie piping forth 
 his musical note. 
 
 When the day broke, the fence was not more than two or three 
 hundred yards off, so we cheerfully humped our swags and briskly 
 walked down the road. It was a beautiful summer morning — 
 all the birds were singing sweetly. Ahead of us could be dis- 
 tinctly seen the blue smoke from a farm house chimney, slowly 
 curling upwards into the fresh air. When we passed, the dogs 
 ran out and barked at us, as if glad to see us, instead of showing 
 an air of defiance. We jogged along for miles in this style, till at 
 
SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. 
 
 XI. 
 
 last we came to a standstill, the road terminating. Holloa ! 
 what's this?" said one of us. “We're off the track," said 
 another. Thus we began to get uneasy, and came to the conclu- 
 sion, which afterwards proved to be correct, that we had taken 
 the road that ran at right angles to the one we should have 
 travelled, placing us several miles south of our track. It was very 
 plain to us now that, during the exciting contest of the previous 
 evening, we turned into the bush which must have been near the 
 junction of the two roads, and not thinking of that, the first road 
 we saw in the morning we naturally took to be ours. However, 
 we held a council, and decided to take a bee-line across the country 
 to One-tree Hill, which could be plainly seen, like a pikestaff, 
 distant about seven miles. We commenced our journey, and a 
 tough one it was. First we descended a long open timbered 
 hill, at the foot of which was an almost impenetrable ti-tree scrub. 
 We ploughed through it like young tapirs. It was so thick that 
 we had literally to break it down by main force. At last we 
 crossed it, and once again we breathed ; but it was only from the 
 frying pan into the fire, because our route lay through thickly 
 grassed country. The tufts were higher than our heads, and 
 strewed with immense logs of dead timber, over which some of us 
 got tremendous bursters. At times we caught an occasional 
 glimpse of our coveted object. One-tree Hill. Next we came to a 
 burnt scrub, and crackled through it, only to come out as black as 
 niggers. Then a large mangrove swamp. In we plunged, nearly 
 up to our necks at first, but soon obtained a little better footing. 
 Here Chicken dropped his swag into the water, which was not 
 recovered without some difficulty, it having got into a current, 
 and was sailing away. And we went splashing through the mud 
 and water till we came to a tolerable deep part. In Indian file 
 we succeeded in getting through it, wet only up to our waists, 
 save Skinny, who ran through it, sending up a terrific spray of 
 water, as only his white-colored wideawake was . visible. He 
 finished his wild career by slipping on a sunken stump, thereby 
 causing him to take a dive. The rest of us had a hearty laugh at 
 him. At last we reached terra firm a, but here a new and un- 
 expected difficulty presented itself. When we emerged from the 
 scrub we came to the boundary of a thick forest, which completely 
 obscured our view of the hill ; neither had we a compass between 
 us, and had not the slightest conception which was north, south, 
 or any other point, and it was now cloudy ; therefore the sun was 
 of no use to us. While thus contemplating, one of us espied a 
 little hut gleaming through the trees, and from information there 
 received we were immediately on the right track at the foot of the 
 range. 
 
 We pitched our camp on the flat just behind the Fern-tree 
 Gully Hotel, constructed a roomy mia-mia, boiled the billies, and 
 had a good feed and a laugh at the ridiculous incidents that 
 
Xll. 
 
 SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. 
 
 occurred during the morning ; likewise congratulating ourselves 
 in having so successfully navigated the frightful swamp, into 
 which, the man in the hut told us, a good man had once entered 
 never to return again. 
 
 After a rest we started for the top of One-tree Hill, except 
 Ohicken, who was ‘‘ baked, ’’ and Flora. We travelled a winding 
 and inclining road for about two miles, till we arrived at what is 
 known as the grave. It is the grave of the first white man^s 
 wife, who lived on the ranges many years ago. There is nothing 
 to be seen now but a mass of entangled wild briars. Here the 
 real beauties of the gully commence, and the trees assume more 
 formidable dimensions both as regards length and breadth. On 
 leaving the grave we travelled two or three hundred yards through 
 the thick underwood and grass, commonly called “ policeman ” 
 grass, because if rubbed with the grain it is quite smooth, but if 
 the reverse will cut frightfully. Then we entered the gully, 
 followed up the watercourse, and commenced to climb over the 
 slippery boulders and rough trunks of fern-trees ; but we were 
 well repaid for our exertions. The gully was like an ice-house, 
 cooled beneath by the beautiful crystalline stream, while the thick 
 foliage of the fern-trees overshadowed it from the fierce rays of 
 the sun that by this time had become very oppressive. When 
 near the head of the gully a magnificent view presented itself. 
 Before us were three giant gum trees, towering far above all 
 others. We afterwards learned that they are designated 
 “ The Sisters,’^ and their measurement by competent persons is 
 said to be about 350ft. Turning round and looking downwards, 
 the rich green foliage of the tops of the fern-trees, which marked 
 the watercourse, formed an agreeable contrast with the deeper 
 foliage of the trees on the hill on each side of it. We found the 
 source of the gully ; it rises from under a huge granite rock, near 
 the top of the mountain, in a mass of musk-tree scrub. Shortly 
 afterwards we were standing under a solitary tall dead tree, 
 exactly on the summit of the highest mountain of the range. The 
 timber all round us was felled by surveyors, except our singular 
 friend, which was left as a landmark, and has often been the 
 guide to many a weary traveller. Here is the grandest and 
 crowning view of all that we had ever seen. Our northern and 
 eastern views were partly obscured by the summits of the adjoin- 
 ing mountains ; but looking west, the land seemed to lie at our 
 • feet in the form of an extensive wooded plain, as serene as the 
 blue sky above us. In the distant loom could be descried the 
 faint outlines of Port Phillip and the smoke and haze that 
 indicate the position of Melbourne ; further still. Mount Macedon, 
 with smoke yet ascending from its smouldering bush fires. Then 
 turning south-west, range after range of low sugar loaf hills 
 appeared gradually, diminishing in the blue distance, with the 
 undelineated form of those on French Island, Western Port. 
 
SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. 
 
 xiii. 
 
 After feasting on this rapturous scenery for about half an hour, 
 we carved our initials on the tree, then directed our thoughts 
 camp ward ; but how to find the track back was the perplexing 
 point none of us knew. During the exciting rush for the top we 
 took no landmarks. A bit of a warm argument then ensued, 
 when I succeeded in getting the others to follow me, and, after 
 tumbling over miscellaneous logs, long grass, and bush, I succeeded, 
 more by good luck than good management, in finding a splitter^s 
 track. However, it did not lead us to the gully, but down the 
 hill, on the southern side of it. We followed it successfully for 
 some distance, till we lost it, and got into a complete maze of 
 prickly scrub. The sun by this time had commenced to dip 
 towards the western horizon, and the thought of being lost in the 
 bush for a night, without compass, matches, or food, struck terror 
 into our hearts. While tearing through the scrub in a kind of 
 dilemma, to our great but agreeable surprise we accidentally 
 came on the right road. With renewed vigor we joyfully 
 accelerated our steps back to camp, and arrived there just before 
 sundown, to be welcomed by the bark of our dog, a blazing fire, 
 the billies boiled, and everything ready for supper, which Chicken 
 had prepared during our absence. The meal over, we made 
 everything snug for the night, collected the necessary wood for 
 the fire, and turned in, thoroughly satisfied with our day’s 
 amusement. At daybreak we were up, loaded our guns, and 
 went out in quest of game. We had not travelled far before we 
 came on to a stringy-bark flat, which abounded with Bronze- 
 wing Pigeons. We diminished their ranks by several braces, and 
 likewise bagged a good many Wattle-birds and King Parrots. 
 This finished the morning’s work. In the afternoon we went in 
 search of bears, shot one or two, skinned them, and returned to 
 camp. In the evening we did a little ’possum shooting. Next 
 morning more Bronze- wing shooting, and home was the cry in the 
 afternoon. Once again we shouldered our swag and paced briskly 
 en route for home. Arrived at Dandenong Creek, we had 
 delightful swims and more ‘Hucker.” On leaving the creek we 
 ascended a nasty long pinch, commonly called Stott’s Hill, from 
 the top of which we saw the last of the ranges, and in such a 
 transporting state that it will take years to erase their appearance 
 from our memories. With a beautiful setting sun shining on 
 them, their romantic rotund form partook of the richest purple 
 that one could imagine, while between us lay a magnificent forest 
 of trees, the warm green of which as it disappeared in the distance 
 blended harmoniously with the rich hue of the mountains. 
 
 We arrived home all safe at 8 o’clock, being six hours from the 
 time we left the gully. Taking off an hour for stoppage at the 
 Dandenong Creek will give twenty miles in five hours, or an 
 average of four miles to the hour. Thus ended ‘‘ our first camp 
 out.” 
 
XIV. 
 
 SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. 
 
 A WEEK IN THE WILDS OF GIPPSLAND.— 1877. 
 Lyre-bird Shooting. 
 
 About twenty miles northward of Brandy Greek, now properly 
 speaking, Buln Buln (or Bullan-Bullan, the aborigines’ name for 
 the Lyre-bird), towards the Baw Baw Mountains, is situated 
 Neerim, a place consisting of a few selections containing some of 
 the best land in the colony. The soil is of a rich chocolate color, 
 its richness being substantiated by the rank growth of vegetation 
 it sustains. The reader may have some idea of this semi-tropical, 
 so to speak, vegetation, if he can imagine three great forests 
 rolled into one, thus : — First, thickly studded, elegant fern-trees, 
 entwined with all sorts of parasitical creepers, forming fairy-like 
 bowers, carpeted by a ground scrub of innumerable ferns of all 
 species ; second, medium-height trees, such as sassafras, musk, 
 blackwood, hazel, wattle, dec.; and third, towering above all, a 
 thick forest of gigantic gum-trees, erroneously called mountain 
 ash, but all white gums ( Eucalyptus a7nygdalina ). 
 
 These noble gums are the tallest of all trees in the whole 
 world. On a mountain slope, a forest will average from 200ft. 
 to 300ft. in height, and all as straight as arrows. Many fallen 
 trees have measured 350ft. in length, and I read of one that, by 
 actual measurement of tape, was 435ft. long. The tallest of the 
 famous big trees in Oalifornia is 325ft. The mountain ash is, I 
 think, scientifically called Panax sambucifolia^ and has compound 
 leaves, and, therefore, is totally dissimilar to the white gum. 
 
 Each of the selections (320 acres) has two or three delightfully 
 strong running spring streams, but there is no doubt, as the land 
 is cleared, so will the springs materially decrease, if not altogether 
 dry up, because at present the sun seldom or never shines upon 
 the ground \ therefore all the moisture soaks in which would 
 otherwise evaporate. It is rather better than three years since 
 the selections were taken up. The industrious selectors have 
 made good progress in clearing such awful country, and in fencing 
 and sowing grass. They had a very excellent burn this season, 
 on account of the exceptionally dry summer. There is now a 
 dray track cut by the Government, from the main road, up 
 through the selections, and leading on to the head of the Tarwin 
 River, where the tin mines are located. At the time of my visit 
 (February), the weather was exceedingly hot, and the atmosphere 
 charged with thick smoke, rendering it quite pungent to the eyes ; 
 therefore one may fancy that my walk up was by no means very 
 pleasant, especially as there were at intervals roaring and burning 
 fosests on either hand, causing trees to fall across the track in all 
 
SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. 
 
 XV. 
 
 directions. However, although I was alone, it was infinitely 
 better than my journey up, two years previously, before any dray 
 track was cut, and I vividly recalled to my mind that time when 
 I joined a few selector friends at Brandy Creek, and struck a track 
 which was gently inclining all the way, and was so' hard to travel 
 that it took us nine hours to reach our destination, although we 
 wasted very little time on the road. I never wish to traverse 
 such a rough road again for pleasure. First up one hill and down 
 another, through gullies and thick scrub, over thick logs and 
 stumps, through ruts and mud, tripping over fern roots, and bang 
 into a neighboring tree ; perhaps you go one side of it, and your 
 swag the other. Sometimes on entering the underwood, princi- 
 pally consisting of fern-trees and sassafras, it was so thick over- 
 head that it completely darkened our path, although the sun was 
 shining brightly at the time. So great, indeed, was the obscurity,, 
 that several times we lost the track through not being able to 
 see the blazed trees, which we had to follow, now and then, for 
 some distance. Therefore it behoved us to be very careful, 
 for if we got off the track in such country as this, we would be, 
 as the colonials say, “ up a tree.’^ We passed over seven or eight 
 beautiful streams, some of them being large. Their waters were 
 delicious, cool as ice, and clear as crystal ; some of these streams 
 formed the finest fern-tree gullies I have seen in the colony. 
 On the road up we got swarmed with land leeches. They fastened 
 with the greatest tenacity on our legs and faces, and especially on 
 our necks, and on pulling them oflf we bled profusely. I , was 
 rather scared at first, but I soon got used to it. If we stood in a 
 damp place for a minute, we would see myriads of these creatures 
 making straight for us from all directions, even down the trees. 
 Mosquitoes were there in myriads, not to mention fleas, which 
 were simply innumerable. I put up at the bush hut of one of 
 my friends. The more interesting and primary object of my visit 
 was to shoot the Lyre-bird, only procured in the wildest of 
 country. The Lyre-bird — called by the colonists Pheasants ; by the 
 Yarra tribe of aborigines, “Bullan Bullan,” that being something 
 like their native note — is about the size of a lanky domestic fowl, 
 and valued on account of the magnificent tail of the cock bird. The 
 general plumage of the bird is dark brown. The upper surface 
 of the elegant tail, which is about thirty inches long, is blackish 
 brown ; under surface, beautiful silvery grey ; in the large outer 
 feathers on each side (forming the lyre, hence their name), the 
 web is white and transparent, crossed by numerous bands of 
 rufous ; and the margin of the inner web and tips black. There 
 are also two curious narrow centre feathers crossing each other at 
 the base, and curving gracefully outward at the tip. The tail is 
 new in February, but does not attain its full beauty and perfection 
 until mid- winter. With regard to this bird, Gould, the celebrated 
 Australian naturalist, says : — “Were I requested to suggest an 
 
XVI. 
 
 SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING.* 
 
 emblem for Australia among its avifauna, I should without the 
 slightest hesitation select the Lyre-bird as the most appropriate, it 
 being not only strictly peculiar to that country, but one which will 
 be regarded with the highest interest, both by the people of 
 Australia and by ornithologists in Europe.” It is, no doubt, 
 very peculiar, and the shyest of all birds; you may be in the bush 
 for weeks, and hear them all around you, yet never see one. They 
 only lay one egg, of purplish grey, with numerous blotches of 
 purplish brown, especially at the larger end. Their nest is very hard 
 to find. Another peculiarity is, that each has a little mound of dirt 
 or hillock which they scrape up with their immense claws to pro- 
 menade on, while displaying their beautiful tails by reflecting them 
 over their back, within a few inches of their head, all the time 
 making the gullies ring with their melodious liquid calls, and at 
 intervals mocking difierent birds to the exact note. I have heard 
 them mock the Jackass, Parrot, Cockatoo, Butcher-bird, Coach - 
 whip-bird, and even the solemn Mopoke. Their food consists of 
 insects, land leeches, snails, &c. There are three species of Lyre- 
 bird in Australia, of which the Gippsland Queen Victorias 
 {Menura Victorice) is the most handsome. 
 
 Notwithstanding their proverbial shyness, I succeeded in bagging 
 seven really beautiful cock-birds They are generally hunted with 
 little dogs, which “tree” them and attract attention, thus allowing 
 the hunter to approach near enough to shoot. But this mode has 
 a great disadvantage. You are obliged to follow the dog wherever 
 it leads you, scrambling like to break your neck, up one gully, 
 down another, then once or twice round, and you are “ bushed ” 
 in such a scrub there is no knowing when you will effect an escape. 
 The month before I was up a man was lost for five days. 
 
 I will now describe my modus operandi^ which only requires great 
 patience. In the morning you patrol leisurely along the track or 
 survey lines till you hear a bird merrily whistling on his hillock a 
 little distance in ; then you commence carefully — oh, so carefully 
 — for one false step, an extra shuffle of the leaves, or a crack of a 
 twig, and your prey disappears as if by magic — to crawl on your 
 hands and knees, as often wriggling along on your stomach through 
 the ferns and scrub, from stump to stump and tree to tree. The 
 bird sometimes stops, as if instinctively knowing danger is 
 approaching, whereupon you have to become like a statue fixed 
 to some fern root, and dare not move a muscle, not even if you 
 feel leeches crawling up your legs or a mosquito biting the extreme 
 tip of your nose. Presently he commences whistling joyfully as 
 ever. On you creep, every yard nearer, so that with excitement 
 your heart increases in palpitation till it throbs so loud you fancy it 
 will frighten the bird. All this time great beads of perspiration 
 are rolling off your forehead, and distinctly pattering on the dried 
 leaves. Now you can fully realise what Gould says — “None but 
 those who have traversed the rugged, hot, and suffocating bushes 
 
SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. 
 
 XVll. 
 
 can understand the excessive labor attendant on the pursuit of the 
 Menura.’’ At last within shooting distance, peering through the 
 ferns, with uplifted gun and trembling finger on the trigger ; but, alas ! 
 that second your game is off noiselessly and unperceived ; it, having 
 sharper eyes than you, discovers you first. There is no alternative 
 left but to retrace your steps to the track, and your chagrin can be 
 more easily imagined than expressed. You may repeat this 
 operation five times before you even get a shadow of a shot. 
 However, out of ten birds I fired at, I bagged seven, two of which 
 I dropped while they were scampering off through the ferns. I am 
 glad to see that lately the Governor-in-Council has been pleased to 
 place them under the Game Law. For the benefit of whom it may 
 concern, I quote the Act — “ Close season, from the 1st August to 
 31st January in each year.’^ 
 
 While reclining on a log listening for birds, one hottish after- 
 noon, with an overcast sky and a north wind blowing, suddenly 
 there was a great calm, every leaf motionless, followed in the 
 distance by a mighty rushing sound like the approach of trains or 
 a forest on fire. On it came, gradually louder and louder, till it 
 burst on the locality, — a change of wind that blew with hurricane 
 force. Trees that just a minute or two before were languid 
 became an agitated mass, swaying their huge boughs to and fro as 
 if to break them. All was a scene of confusion and noise ; dead 
 leaves, bark, and sticks fell in showers, green bows as well as dried 
 snapped, saplings distorted, and a large white gum, nearly 200 
 feet high, fell with horrifying crash, crushing everything beneath 
 it. Again it became calm. 
 
 One night four or five large gum-trees caught fire. Being hollow, 
 they were like huge chimneys. The fire rushed through and roared 
 like a hundred furnaces, throwing long tongues of livid flames far 
 above their height, illuminating the forest with their effulgent 
 splendor ; and the gyration of millions of sparks, as they flew 
 upward and fell in showers over the country, was something 
 transcendent to behold. The appalling effect is when the tree 
 falls. With the velocity of falling, the branches whistle through 
 the air like so many cannon balls, followed by a terrible prolonged 
 crash, making the hills echo and re-echo. Finally the trunk 
 reaches the earth with a tremendous dull thud, causing the ground 
 to quake under your feet. 
 
 On the road down, the landlord of the Northern Junction hotel, 
 on main road, a mile and a half this side of Brandy Creek, gave 
 me an invitation to his ‘‘house warming,” which I accepted, not 
 on account of any pleasure I might derive, but simply to satisfy 
 my curiosity as to what a country “spree ” was like. The house 
 could not accommodate the sixty or seventy visitors who came 
 from far and near. There was erected in an adjoining paddock a 
 spacious fern-bower, where was spread a most sumptuous supper j 
 in fact, quite elaborate for the country, and even town, what with 
 
XVlll, 
 
 SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. 
 
 hams, turkey, goose, roast beef in abundance, not to mention 
 blancmange, puddings, and pastry of all sorts. The only indis- 
 pensable article wanting was champagne, and even that, I under- 
 stand was ordered, but did not arrive until the following morning. 
 After supper, dancing and singing were kept up without flagging 
 till sunrise the next morning. By the way, if any traveller wishes 
 good substantial meals, and comfortable clean bed, at reasonable 
 prices, try Smith’s Northern Junction hotel. 
 
 I returned to Melbourne by the opposition coach, Bradley Bros, 
 and Oo.’s. Although the celebrated Cobb and Co.’s started before 
 us, and had at stages one and sometimes two horses in excess of 
 us, we arrived in town before it, and by paying 5s. less fare. 
 
 Finally, taking all things into consideration, I arrived at Home, 
 sweet home,” very much impressed with my somewhat rough 
 week’s out. 
 
 A TRIP FROM MELBOURNE TO WENTWORTH (N.S.W.) 
 
 It was on a genial afternoon in the spring of 1877 that my 
 esteemed friend L. and I left Spencer street railway en route 
 for Wentworth. L. preferred a smoking compartment, I a non- 
 smoking. Parted with two friends at Keilor road station, their 
 destination being Bacchus Marsh. On looking round there 
 remained but two passengers in my compartment — a prepossessing 
 young married lady and child. A lively conversation on vari- 
 ous topics soon sprung up — Mark Twain, ferns, oology, zoology, 
 especially about the quaint little amphibious animal the platypus, 
 Ornithor hynchus. By this time we rounded the frowning brow, 
 wooded to its very summit, of old Mount Macedon, our ‘‘iron 
 horse ” puffing and laboring heavily up the incline. On opening 
 the carriage window my ear instinctively caught from one of the 
 gullies the clinking notes of Hill Crow-Shriek, {Strepera arguta,) 
 with their anvil-like ring ; hence the scientific specific appellation. 
 At sundown reached Castlemaine ; stopped ten minutes. On 
 thrusting my head out of the window a Goth of a fellow, with a 
 basket on his arm, shouted in my ear “ Apples, oranges, figs, 
 Melbourne Punch'^'^ Sandhurst, 8 o’clock. Here my interesting 
 lady traveller bid me a most polite good night, and as the door opened 
 she fell into the arms of her loving husband, a big grizzly, bushy- 
 whiskered man. Looked for L., had a cup of tea and half-an-hour’s 
 spell together. Entered the Inglewood train. This time L. 
 persuaded me to go into the smoking carriage with a Govern- 
 ment official who was being transferred from Echuca to Swan 
 Hill. With the knowledge we had to travel all night I indulged 
 in “ forty winks,” while they smoked. Close upon midnight 
 
SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 away we started from Inglewood in a four-horse coach, and merrily 
 bowled over the Loddon Plains. Passengers numbered six. 
 Changed at Serpentine, Four Posts (as the name suggests, the 
 remains of an old dwelling), and Durham Ox. Here we not only 
 changed horses but driver and coach, while we watched ‘‘ The 
 daylight dawning o’er hill and, o’er vale but, alas ! the latter 
 sentiment had to be imagined, for when day broke we found 
 ourselves on a barren red plain, extending to the very horizon. 
 Broke our fast at Kerang, on the Loddon. Country getting a little 
 more attractive ; therefore, as no person occupied the box seat, I 
 endeavored to obtain it, to have a ‘‘ yarn ” with the driver. 
 But judge my astonishment when he turned round very snappishly 
 and said You would not come up when I wanted (cold early 
 dawn), you shan’t come now,” and literally shoved me off. 
 Replied : — “ All right, old man, hold your hair on ! I’ll return 
 from whence I came, and take my whisky flask with me.” Con- 
 sequently, he drove the whole day by himself, while we inside 
 were exceedingly jolly ; time passing agreeably, yarning, smoking, 
 (fee., not forgetting an occasional nip of whiskey, the surrounding 
 country assuming a still better appearance. The track wound 
 about a few placid lakes and lagoons, in some of which Black 
 Swans dabbled with their long graceful necks, others peacefully 
 picking their feathers on a green shore with a brood of cygnets 
 pattering round them. Wild Turkeys were passed in abundance. 
 A terrified Emu crossed our track, taking great fright at our coach 
 and team. It was e(a)musing to see him “ put on the pace.” For 
 many miles we skirtled the shore of Lake Bael Bael, a beautiful 
 sheet of water, which receives the river Avoca. Passed a good 
 many travelling mobs of cattle and flocks of sheep, bound for the 
 Melbourne market, the former from Queensland and latter from 
 over the border. About 3 o’clock in the afternoon caught the first 
 glimpse of the great winding River Murray, and shortly were in 
 Swan Hill. Here ends the first day’s (twenty-five hours some- 
 what long and tedious) journey, 230 miles. Put up at Garden’s 
 hotel. L. and I strolled down to the river, which here was about 
 three times as broad as our Yarra, winding swiftly through a fiat 
 plainy country, devoid of trees. Went onboard a steamer, ‘‘The 
 Rodney.” Yisited a couple of blacks’ mia-mias and had a “yabber.” 
 There was one old warrior called “ Governor ” who had been 
 blind for several years from age. Meanwhile, another blackfellow 
 and his dusky spouse arrived, carrying a huge cod-fish just caught 
 in the river. There is a story told about this pair. On one 
 occasion, during the absence of her lord, the lubra got intoxicated 
 and was running about the township clad only in nature’s garb, 
 consequently she was “ locked up ” by the local constable. On 
 the return of the blackfellow the constable related , the circum- 
 stance to him. The aboriginal replied, screwing up his right eye 
 and dropping his under jaw ; — ^ Dear me ! Mr. So-and-so, what a 
 
XX. 
 
 SCEAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. 
 
 disgrace to you and me. I’ll teach her colonial mac(ex)perience 
 when she comes out.” Returned to the hotel in time for a 
 sumptuous dinner. It may be imagined that we did it ample 
 justice after our tiresome journey. The company consisted of 
 eight or nine persons of more or less importance. Conversation 
 was lively and varied ; amongst other subjects I was backed to 
 sleep any man in a four-horse coach for a wager. I was reputed 
 to have performed it in quite a professional style, while fellow- 
 passengers endeavored, but signally failed, by either bobbing their 
 heads into the opposite passengers’ stomach, through the roof, or 
 out of the window. Bedtime — enjoyed refreshing sleep. Started 
 next morning at 5 o’clock, in an open coach, L. and myself being 
 the only passengers. On settling down in my seat, questioned 
 the driver, “ how many miles have we to travel before breakfast?” 
 ‘‘Fifty-five, sir!” turned up my extra opened eyes, and nearly fell off 
 my perch with fright. Can’t stand 55 miles on an empty stomach, 
 so had to “ sit ” to it. We rattled over the grassy downs, with 
 Native Companions gamboling about, and through fine Murray 
 pine ridges, succeeded by scrubby flats, with a few “ cheeky 
 looking kangaroos staring at us. Muttered to myself, “My esteemed 
 marsupial friends, if I had a wire cartridge of No. 2, wouldn’t I 
 make you hop.” But this pleasant aspect of affairs did not 
 endure long ; a nasty, cold, drizzling, rain set in on our faces, 
 making us feel most uncomfortable. Now travelling along 
 muddy stunted box-tree flats side by side of an occasional 
 “ billabong ” (/.^., a stream emerging from the river, and entering 
 its parent lower down) or the river itself, disturbing some peaceful 
 Ducks, here and there a solitary White Crane, or perhaps, screech- 
 ing overhead, a flock of lovely Rose-breasted Cockatoos, as well as 
 yelling white Sulphur-crested ones. Here we were within an ace 
 of broken necks — joking apart. Crossing over a rough log culvert 
 or rustic bridge, with unprotected sides, the leading horse shied, 
 causing the coach to run within an inch from the edge ; if we had 
 toppled over there would have been an end to all our little 
 troubles. Shortly after this narrow escape a steamer passed. It 
 was quite refreshing to see a large steamer steering between the 
 gum trees, and to hear its shrill whistle in those lonely parts. A 
 few more kangaroos and a flock of seven Emus, last of the game ; 
 affairs getting very miserable, pangs of hunger frightful, mud 
 splashing on our faces from the galloping horses in front ; road 
 muddier ; horses getting beautifully less, started with four, next 
 stage three, now down to two ; reckoned with ourselves, if this 
 reduction proceeds, before we reach Euston shall have niL At 
 last the dinner (or rather breakfast) shanty hove in sight ; with 
 joy we hailed it, pulled reins, jumped down, could hardly walk for 
 hunger, expected to be saluted by an hospitable landlord, instead 
 of which were received with an off-hand “ Good day, dinner will 
 be ready shortly,” and commenced to scrape out his dirty black 
 
SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 stumpy pipe. Oh ! the viper ! Was not this positive agony for 
 starving men. After about an hour’s great suspense, which was 
 endured with a certain amount of Christian fortitude, a squeaky 
 female voice called ‘‘ Dinner !” L. and I glared at each other, 
 hardly believing our ears, and simultaneously made a frantic 
 rush through the doorway ; he jostled into the landlord, while I 
 trampled over three chickens and nearly tripped over an old 
 sow in the gangway, into the back premises, to this dinner ; 
 without grace (graceless lot) dived into some mutton chops. Oh ! 
 horror of horrors, tough as old cow-hide, couldn’t eat them ; 
 shoved them aside, and took what appeared to be a shoulder of 
 mutton (but afterwards proved to be billy-goat) ; couldn’t touch 
 it either, positively raw ; then had a shot at some potatoes, which 
 were frightfully smoked, and gravy fifty per cent, ditto. In 
 desperation I grabbed at a' custard, which was passable, and 
 finished off with a rubbishing cup of tea. This really splendid 
 dinner cost us half-a-crown apiece. Wasn’t it cheap? L. said. 
 Did you ever eat such an abominable meal ? If it were not for 
 the long journey before me, I certainly would thrust my finger 
 down my throat.” Another start, heavy rain, only a sack to 
 protect our knees, frightfully muddy country, a few belts of low 
 stunted trees, not a blade of grass for miles, nothing but mud ! 
 mud ! ! mud ! ! ! Next stage horses were fagged out. I unwillingly 
 got out, and, with the aid of a long sapling, urged on the near 
 side horse, my feet clogging at every advancing step, the driver 
 on the other side lashing furiously, with not a few oaths, while L. 
 (wise man) preferred driving ; he at length was obliged to 
 dismount to lighten the trap, and in doing so slipped off the nave 
 of the wheel on the broad of his back into the mud. I really 
 could not help laughing heartily. Tearing through this quagmire 
 the concern ran crashing against a tree and smashed a lamp, 
 which the driver swore that L. broke when he accidentally fell off 
 the wheel. As the sun had far spent his “ western wheel,” had 
 the last change for the day ; team somewhat better, road easier, 
 weather clearing up, with moon shining. About 8 o’clock caught 
 the lights of Euston dancing through the trees, pulled reins, and 
 all — horses, trap and occupants — were punted across the Murray, 
 and in a few minutes we set foot on the “ Free Trade ” colony. 
 Thus ends the second day’s journey — 100 miles more. 
 
 Turned out at six on the following morning ; tremendous rain 
 all night, consequently more mud ; lively prospect for a Sunday ; 
 not even a sack to cover our knees this time ; requested the 
 driver for the use of the one we had yesterday ; replied : — O ! I 
 want it for the mails.” Resumed seats, L. and driver in front, 
 myself and a blackfellow behind. Noticing the blackfellow 
 possessed a bag, I said: — ‘‘You bin givum half?” “Yes!” 
 ‘‘Thank you; what name belong-um you ?” “Wurrlong!” “Have 
 you bin see Melbourne V “0 yes ! bin home too, and along 
 
xxii. SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. 
 
 France.^’ It appears he had been to England as servant to some 
 squatter’s family. But fancy an aboriginal stating he had been 
 home.^^ We began to get awfully cold, eagerly embraced an 
 opportunity to warm ourselves at the first change, where we 
 built a large fire by the roadside. In this instance, as in one or 
 two others throughout the journey, the place of change was 
 extremely primitive, merely a small brush-fenced triangular 
 enclosed between three or four trees. Some neighboring selector 
 or old “ hatter ” runs the horses in at appointed days. The horses 
 run at will about the country, and sometimes “are wanted.” At 
 one stage half a team only could be mustered ; the consequence 
 was we had to proceed with one poor fagged brute of the last 
 team. Country round about looking comparatively cheerful ; 
 bowled over high red cliffs overlooking the broad zig-zag river. 
 They are called Mallee Cliffs, being covered with a scrub of that 
 name — a species of small gum {Eucalyptus dumosa). At a neat, 
 clean, little hotel had an enjoyable dinner. What a contrast with 
 the former day’s meal ! Here we picked up another passenger, a 
 shearer, who was summoned to appear at Wentworth, some 50 
 miles distant, an unwilling witness in some watch-stealing case. 
 He was a comical “ chap,” and full of information. It came to 
 my knowledge afterwards that he was a son of a real Baronet. 
 Now I shall relate a wonderful incident which might not happen 
 to one in ten thousand persons in a life-time. Driving through a 
 still forest, nothing startling save the flush of a brace or two of 
 lovely Crested Bronzewings ; but, miles from any habitation, we 
 met a blind man with swag on back, led by a beautiful brown 
 retriever slut, a lovely creature, with exceedingly intelligent 
 head and eyes. We pulled up to see this extraordinary couple. 
 “ Where are you going, old man T “ Swan Hill, sir. I’m going 
 to try and raise money there to take me to the Amherst Hospital, 
 to have an operation performed on my eyes, the sight of which 
 I’ve lost by sandy blight.” “ Where are you from T “Forbes, 
 sir, nearly a thousand miles up the Darling, and my faithful dog 
 has led me all the way. I can tell by her when I’m off the track, 
 or when rain is approaching, by her becoming restless and hurrying 
 me on.” “ Why do you keep her muzzled T “ Because of poison 
 set for wild dogs, sir ; and if I lose her I — I’m lost, sir ; yes, lost!” 
 We quite pitied the poor fellow. But think of the sagacious dog 
 leading him all these miles. Amongst us we soon subscribed a 
 few shillings, and sent him on his way rejoicing, and, would you 
 believe it, when we handed the money the dog, as if returning 
 thanks too, actually pranced round with delight, and tried to 
 catch its tail. 
 
 By way of a change, we took two more passengers aboard. One 
 was looked upon with rather more than ordinary interest, being a 
 female. They appeared to be country “yokels,” and were a newly- 
 married pair. He and the driver evidently were acquainted with 
 
SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. xxiil. 
 
 each other, and indulged in some “ tall ’’ yarns and a lot of 
 abominable horsey talk. 
 
 Now, to bring my journey, as well as my “ yarn,” to a close, it 
 will be sufficient to say that, after an unpleasant quantity of more 
 rain and hail, we skirted a plain studded with the “everlasting ” 
 salt-bush, crossed the river Darling, and arrived at Wentworth at 
 6 o’clock, cold and stiff, bespattered from head to foot with mud. 
 And lastly, here ends the third day’s journey — another 100 miles 
 — or 430 miles from Melbourne. 
 
 A DAY’S FERNING ON MOUNT MAOEDON. 
 
 After a very early breakfast my friend Rod and I started from 
 home at half past five o’clock, just as the first faint streaks of dawn 
 appeared ; caught the quarter-to seven train. Steadily did the 
 “ Iron-horse ” approach the mountain, which every mile grew 
 larger and larger, and behind the Camel’s Hump it wore a saddle 
 of snow. Arrived at Macedon station at half-past eight. We 
 arranged to pick up Taylor at his alpine-situated nursery, about 
 four miles up the mountain. Being our maiden trip we did not 
 know the way ; a fellow passenger, a German, with characteristic 
 politeness, kindly offered to show us along part of the track. 
 When we had travelled a mile or so, our Continental companion 
 exclaimed : “ By mine Fatherland ! you valks too quick 
 
 therefore, after some further directions, we bade him adieu ! 
 Another mile brought us to the romantic nook locally known as 
 “ The Falls.” They are about 25 feet in height. Glowing from 
 head to foot with our sharp morning walk, we seated ourselves on 
 a rock below the fall, with an icy cool stream gurgling past our 
 feet, and with the warm, genial sun shining on us. Thus were we 
 supremely happy while discussing breakfast No. 2, which was 
 duly washed down by a little real “ Mountain dew.” 
 
 Two miles more of stiff up-hill work brought us to Taylor’s, about 
 2000 feet above the level of the sea. We were most hospitably 
 received. He soon had a great “ billy ” of coffee, and a number 
 of fresh eggs boiled, which were relished with fine hot buttered 
 scones. Breakfast No. 3. We enjoyed it all the more particu- 
 larly as our appetites were keenly sharpened by the fresh 
 morning air from off the Eucalypti foliage which Rod found it 
 necessary to admire at every other steep pinch on the road. 
 
 Now came the exquisite pleasure of the day’s enjoyment. 
 Accompanied by Taylor (who, by the way, is a capital fern 
 expert), with our necessary accoutrements for a fern hunt, basket, 
 trowel, &c., we dashed through the scrub and were soon in a 
 gully, traversing up its rough stony bottom against a limpid 
 stream. On either hand was a perfect terrace of ferns, from the 
 
XXIV. 
 
 SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. 
 
 diminutive creeping fern to the graceful tree-fern {Dicksonia)^ and 
 now and again peeping above these the elegant umbrella-like 
 tree-fern {Asophila). All this was backed up by blackwood, 
 musk, hazel, &c., trees, entwined and festooned with beautiful 
 creeping plants, and covered with moss of many species. While 
 towering above all were the forest patriarchs — gigantic, noble, 
 silvery-barked white gum trees. 
 
 In this romantic watercourse we obtained 13 or 14 different 
 varieties of ferns, the greater number of which were acceptable 
 additions to our ferneries, including the fine King fern {Todea). 
 
 Near the head of this mountain gully I was busy grubbing 
 roots when, without notice or warning, I received a tremendous 
 “ clout” on the back of my cranium. The effect was that my head 
 went into the mud instead of my trowel. The cause was that Kod had 
 discovered a patch of snow, and had secretly compiled a ball. 
 This was the first experience in my life of snow. I was quite 
 delighted to see it, and amused Kod and Taylor with the intense 
 curiosity I displayed by handling, smelling, and tasting it. 
 One of the most transcendently natural sights I ever beheld 
 was snow of dazzling whiteness, glistening in the sun upon the 
 graceful, drooping, bright warm green fern-tree fronds. 
 
 After tearing through a belt of scrub we reached the highest 
 peak of the range, the Oamehs Hump, or Mount Diogenes. Its 
 altitude is approximately about 3000 feet above sea level, some 30 
 or 40 feet higher than the adjacent peak, Macedon proper. The 
 view from the summit was indescribably grand in the extreme. 
 What a picturesque panorama ! To the northward stood Mount 
 Alexander, with plain succeeding plain, and Castlemaine in the 
 distance. To the east the rotund form of old Mount Juliet, with 
 a shower rushing upon her brow. To the west mount after 
 mount appeared, ending in an abrupt spur of the Pyrenees. But 
 the homeward view ! — how lovely the great intervening plain below, 
 chequered by the shadow of swiftly passing clouds. Melbourne, 
 encircled with a wreath of ^moke, behind which, from our position, 
 appeared to rise the dim forms of the Dandenong Banges. The 
 sea was like an immense sheet of glass, out of which Arthur’s 
 Seat rose in a faint cloud-like shape in opposition to the serrated 
 contour of the You Yangs. “As I view these scenes so 
 charming ” flashed across our minds, and we would like to have 
 viewed and meditated for hours, but time did not permit ; 
 therefore, after some whisky and snow (we could not obtain 
 water so high up) and more snowballing, we commenced a down- 
 ward march. 
 
 By the way, I must not forget to furnish a frightful pun 
 perpetrated by Rod. We were climbing up hill, puffing and 
 blowing, when I said to Rod, “ Go you first, and let me catch 
 hold of your coat-^^?f/.” He replied, “ You had better ask 
 Taylor (tailor). 
 
SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. 
 
 XXV. 
 
 At all times we were liable to get terrible “ busters,” caused by 
 the slippery state of the ground and logs. But of all the falls 
 Rod^s was a capper. What a laugh Taylor and I had at his 
 expense. In the act of traversing some thick scrub, Rod bringing 
 up the rear, suddenly we heard a tremendous bang and a crash, 
 as if, froui behind, some great gum tree had fallen. I instinctively 
 buried my head between my shoulders, expecting the branches 
 were about to overwhelm me, but on looking behind we saw Rod 
 on his back, kicking his heels in the air, while between him and 
 mother earth was his basket of ferns, as fiat as a pan-cake. 
 
 On returning to the hut we had a hurried mouthful, and 
 the three of us caught the six o’clock train, and half -past eight 
 saw us safe at home. So ended a most pleasant and profitable 
 day’s ‘‘out.” 
 
 A MONTH AMONGST THE TASMANIAN BIRDS. 
 
 (Read before the “ Field Naturalists’ Club,” Nov. 12th, 1883.) 
 
 We cleared Port Phillip Heads late on the afternoon of the 6th 
 October, 1883, in the good steamship “ Mangana,” bound for 
 Launceston. We were soon sensible of having entered the “Rip.” 
 “Evil communications corrupt good manners.” The vessel went 
 heaving in all directions, consequently nearly all the passengers 
 followed suit, myself not excepted. However, in my extremity, 
 my ruling passion was stronger, and I made my first acquaintance 
 with the birds. Several Giant Petrels were soaring in all direc- 
 tions over our wake. No doubt, seeing a breeze springing up, and 
 a deck full of living freight, they anticipated a good evening’s 
 repast. Next morning we renewed their friendship. In the offing 
 were flocks of Short-tailed Petrels, or Mutton-birds, as they are 
 more commonly called. Storm Petrels were skimming the waves 
 with their singular jerky action, while from aloft some solitary 
 old Gannet, after some of the finny tribe, would dive headlong into 
 the billows, sending up a wreath of spray higher than the sur- 
 rounding crests of the waves. 
 
 Approaching the Tasmanian coast, we fell in with Bass’s 
 Straits Tern and the two Gulls, the Pacific and the Silver. 
 These two last-named inoffensive sea-birds are included in the 
 Tasmanian “ Game Protection Act,” which imposes a penalty not 
 exceeding twenty shillings for shooting at or killing them. The 
 week after I landed, a party of young men from Launceston were 
 out yachting on the river. One fired at and killed a Silver Gull 
 that was flying past, but his act was observed by one of “ Bobby’s” 
 keen-eyed “ Peelers,” who very properly summoned the offender 
 before the poHce court. The culprit was fined five shillings, 
 with eight shillings and sixpence costs. He and his comrades 
 claimed the dead bird, which the bench granted. They formed a 
 mournful looking procession, returned to the yacht, and tried to 
 
XXVI. 
 
 SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. 
 
 make a joke of the whole affair by displaying from the mast a 
 card with the following inscription — ‘‘ Gulls, 13s. 6d.^’ 
 
 After entering Low Heads, and during the course up the 
 Tamar, as may be expected, we saw many of the ill-shaped 
 Cormorants, the Australian, the White-breasted, and the Little. 
 
 My head-quarters were near Evandale, at Eidgeside, a large 
 sheep and agricultural farm, owned by Mr. F. H. Heed. Ridge- 
 side is about fifteen miles, in a south-easterly direction, from 
 Launceston, and of a pronounced hill and dale character, sub- 
 divided into numerous paddocks by live fences of hawthorn, gorse, 
 and briar, which offer natural resorts for various descriptions of 
 birds. Close by are thickly-timbered paddocks, backed up by 
 spurs of the Great Western Tier, of granite and sandstone forma- 
 tion, and clothed with trees of many sorts, principally gums 
 (notably peppermint), banksias, acacias, casuarinas, &c. The 
 hill sides are indented by several ravines and gullies containing 
 thick scrub and undergrowth — hazel, musk, swordgrass, ferns, &c. 
 Therefore, within a reasonable radius of Ridgeside, there is almost 
 every description of country conducive to bird life of every form. 
 
 The ocean brought me in contact first with the sea-birds, the 
 last of the Orders ; but now I shall revert to the first Order, and 
 take in sequence, in the form of a census, those species that came 
 under my notice, making remarks thereon as I proceed. 
 
 The king of Tasmanian birds, as well as Australian, is the 
 Wedge-tailed Eagle. I watched him circling on high ; his eye was 
 probably on some unfortunate “ bunny” hiding under a tussock 
 of grass. Also saw two or three of his hawking colleagues, the 
 Sparrow-hawk, White-fronted Falcon, the Harrier or Swamp-hawk, 
 and the Brown Hawk. Of the last I discovered two nests, but 
 they were situated in the very highest trees of the forest, there- 
 fore, like bad riddles, gave them up.” A nocturnal bird — 
 Cuvier’s Podargus — from out the adjacent forest, during the still 
 nights, at intervals mournfully uttered “ Mo-poke.” 
 
 The homely little Welcome Swallow nested in the barns. Two 
 others I noticed more afield, the Tree Swallow and the Wood 
 Swallow. The neat little Allied Diamond-bird was displaying 
 great activity about the bowls of hollow trees— breeding season 
 was evidently on — but the Spotted Diamond-bird had not com- 
 menced to burrow. How for the Crow-shrikes. Found the nest 
 of the Sooty, which flew off uttering her peculiar shrill cry ; also 
 took two nests with three eggs each of the Cinerous Crow- 
 shrike, or Butcher-bird. It is closely allied to ours ; its notes 
 appeared deeper and rounder. It is a terror to cage-birds. The 
 Tasmanian Crow-shrike, or common Magpie, is almost a domestic 
 bird, it is so useful, tuneful, and tame ; its song is not so powerful 
 as its two representatives on our contiinent. I remember, at 
 eleven o’clock on a moonlight night, hearing one whistle. They 
 are certainly very tame; one pair was hatching in a tree over- 
 
SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. XXvii. 
 
 hanging the buildings at Ridgeside. In the same tree was a large 
 bell that rang the men up to meals ; the louder it rang the louder 
 the birds whistled. Also, in a blue gum-tree in the main road 
 of the township, was another nest. I was greatly amused one 
 day at a Magpie, perched on a three-railed fence, piping its merry 
 song at a railway train which whizzed past within a few feet of it. 
 It is a curious fact that underneath, conjoining their nests, I 
 often took those of the Yellow-tailed Acanthiza, or Tomtit; 
 on one occasion the eggs of both birds were fresh. Of the 
 Tasmanian Grancalus, I have nothing to add, except it will 
 take a very critical eye to distinguish the difference between it 
 and our Black-faced species. Of the Grey-tailed Thickhead, with 
 its lovely rich yellow breast, and less gaily-plumed mate, I was 
 lucky enough to take three nests with fresh eggs ; the clutches 
 were three, two, and two. Selby’s Shrike-thrush was seen and 
 heard in every locality. It is commonly called “Bob Whitehead ” 
 by the Islanders. That expression is distinctly uttered in its 
 lively native notes. Excepting the Tomtit, the five last-mentioned 
 birds are all peculiar to Tasmania. 
 
 Some ornithologists do not give Tasmania credit for possessing 
 the Shining Flycatcher {Myagra nitida ). I made particular in- 
 spection of a male bird I saw in the ranges. There can be no 
 mistake about it ; I saw a pair of skins as well as seeing it in the 
 flesh. I also possess eggs that were taken on the Island. The 
 other Flycatcher is the White-shafted. I took its wonderfully- 
 constructed wine-glass-shaped nest, containing two eggs, in one of 
 the deep gullies of Mount Wellington while searching for nests of 
 the Pink-breasted Wood Robin, of which, however, I only suc- 
 ceeded in finding a couple of last season’s nests. The Scarlet- 
 breasted, the* Flame- breasted, and the Dusky are the other re- 
 maining Robins ; the last-named is the only one whose habit at is 
 restricted to Tasmania and the intermediate Islands. I was 
 recompensed in taking two sets of three each of their beautiful 
 olive-green eggs. The Sombre-colored Sericornis was noisy in all 
 gullies. In every hedge and garden may be seen the lovely Blue- 
 headed Wren or Long-tailed Superb Warbler. Its feeble but 
 sweet twittering song always gladdens one’s mind. There is an 
 abundance of little Tasmanian Acanthizas ; their nests are 
 generally the receptacle for the egg of the Fan-tailed Cuckoo. 
 During my visit, Mr. Reed’s overseer had fortune in taking in a 
 gorse hedge near home a nest containing this Cuckoo’s egg. The 
 other, the Great Acanthiza, or, properly speaking, the Greatest of 
 the Acanthizas, is a rara avis, being almost unknown. The only 
 skin in existence is in the Philadelphia Museum, and that is the 
 one from which Gould took his plate and description nearly thirty 
 years ago. And it is no small featlm‘ (no pun meant on Gi'eat 
 Acanthiza) in the cap of the “ Field Naturalist’s Club of Victoria,” 
 that one of its members has revealed to ornithological science a 
 second skin. 
 
XXVlll. 
 
 SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. 
 
 My securing it came about in this wise. In Hobart I met a 
 young energetic egg collector, Mr. Arthur L. Butler. On cross- 
 questioning closely about this Acanthiza he said he had observed 
 a bird like it in the Mount; so by appointment we went in search 
 one afternoon, taking a breech-loader and a few charges of dust 
 shot with us. We were about to return without our object being 
 accomplished, when a small bird darted through the undergrowth. 
 Quick as thought, the gun was discharged, and Mr. Butler pre- 
 sented me with a bird which was none other than Acanthiza 
 magna. 
 
 The Striated Oalamanthus, with its pretty warble, which seems 
 to keep time to the wagging of its erect tail, is not without 
 interest. This bird is represented as being peculiar to Tasmania, 
 but I have undoubtedly seen it at Mordialloc. The Islanders call 
 it by the somewhat uneuphonious name of ‘‘ Stink- bird ” or 
 “ Stinker,^^ because it emits a gamey scent, and dogs sometimes 
 point at it. The Pipit or Ground-lark is identical with the 
 Australian. The only solitary Finch is the Fire-tailed. Spotted 
 Ground Thrushes betray themselves on stony rises by their 
 whistling-like cry. 
 
 I was rather surprised in taking a clutch of Mountain Thrushes 
 eggs to find one only about half the normal size ; the nest was 
 apparently deserted. It was suggested that the owner had 
 decamped in a fright at producing such a small egg. 
 
 It appeared to me that some of those species of birds common 
 both to Australia and Tasmania were larger in the latter country 
 than in the former, notably the Thrushes and some of the Honey- 
 eaters. The eggs also give greater dimensions. The only hy- 
 pothesis I can advance for the difference is climatic influence. 
 It is a very remarkable coincidence, but I noticed the same with 
 regard to other “birds,” (I trust the ladies will forgive me) 
 that the average size of Tasmanian born ladies exceeded that of 
 Victorian. I merely mention this en passant^ as the Frenchmen 
 say. Grows are continually “ caw-cawing.” They cannot decide 
 whether they have two species or not on the Island — the Hazel- 
 and the White-eyed. One gentleman positively affirmed that he 
 “ spotted ” a “ IVhite-ejed Grow ” flying overhead, and fired at and 
 shot it, but when it reached mother earth behold its eyes were 
 hazel. 
 
 With one exception, I identified all the Honey-eaters that 
 inhabit Tasmania, viz. : — Hew Holland, Tasmania, Yellow-throated, 
 Wattled, Brush Wattle, Spinebill, Garrulous, Strong-billed, and 
 Black-headed, three of which are peculiar to the Island, the two 
 last 'named, and the’' Wattled, which utters a coarse note some- 
 times, like a Blue Mountain Parrot with a severe cold. I was 
 very much delighted at the lively prying action of the Strong- 
 billed and Black-headed Honey-eaters while searching for food ; 
 the latter also possesses quite a cheerful little song. I endeavoured 
 
SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 persistently to discover their nests, but only found fully-fledged 
 young ; therefore, these two species evidently had commenced to 
 breed at the end of August or beginning of September. 
 
 Zosterops were coming down to breed in the hedges. In 
 addition to the Cuckoo already alluded to, I saw the Pallid and 
 the two Bronze Cuckoos, four species altogether, forming the com- 
 pliment of the Island. They all migrate from Australia. 
 
 On a mountain side I heard the wail of the Yellow-eared Black 
 Cockatoo. Shot a pair of Tasmania’s peculiar Parakeet — the 
 Yellow-bellied. Rosellas were plentiful. Grass Parakeets a few, 
 also Musky Lorikeets. The Swift Lorikeets were darting in 
 small flocks over Hobart, and sucking saccharine matter from the 
 Blue Gum blossoms overhanging the streets. Flushed many 
 Bronzewing Pigeons which feeding on a gorse hedge and 
 
 acacia seeds, also took a nest with a pair of eggs. Saw two species 
 of Quail. Could make half a dozen brace of Stubble break cover 
 any morning in a cultivation paddock adjoining the homestead ; 
 also flushed a covey of Tasmanian Swamp Quail, being attracted 
 to the spot by their curious crying call. 
 
 One day, in company with Mr. Beid (who, by the way, is a 
 Tasmanian oologist of no mean standing), went to a swamp. 
 Off boots, tucked up unmentionables, and waded in. Other 
 “ waders ” were present besides ourselves, to wit. White-fronted 
 Herons or Cranes, and Bitterns ; while further in. Porphyries or 
 Coots were screeching frSm out the rushes. Took a Musk Duck’s 
 nest with two eggs. Put up Black Ducks but obtained no eggs. 
 We tried hard to take a little Grass Bird’s nest ; a pair kept 
 flitting in the rushes about us uttering melancholy sustained 
 ‘‘ pee pee-pee ” notes. 
 
 In crossing the Island I noted Black Swans near the Lake of 
 Tiberias. In going to enjoy a bathe in the South Esk river, one 
 warm afternoon, a pair of Mortier’s Tribonyx kept dodging around 
 the bank, making a loud rasping “ crake-crake ” noise, at the same 
 time producing a curious bobbing action of the tail. These birds 
 are about the size of a small domestic fowl, and can run with 
 amazing rapidity along the ground. 
 
 Thus in four weeks I identifled about 75 species of Tasmanian 
 birds, being nearly half the number, including sea-birds, that 
 belong to the island. 
 
 How I think I have come to the end of my tether, if I include the 
 Reed or Sege Warblers I heard on the Tamar. Some authorities 
 say their habitat does not extend to Tasmania. This is an 
 error. 
 
 In my outings of imported game I noticed rabbits, hares, and 
 deer ; of indigeneous animals, kangaroo, wallaby, opossums, 
 kangaroo-rats, and porcupine ant-eaters. Many a good startle I 
 experienced by some of the beasts, especially when gaping up a 
 tree, with mouth as well as eyes open, at some attractive bird, 
 
XXX. 
 
 SCRAPS ABOUT BIRD-NESTING. 
 
 when suddenly out would dash a wallahy or kangaroo-rat from 
 the scrub at my very feet. It would be difficult to say whether 
 the marsupials or I sustained the greater fright. 
 
 “Ye spotted snakes, with double tongue. Of these reptiles 
 saw two species, the tiger and the white-lipped. Both were 
 captured alive. The tiger was about 2^ feet long, and, with Mr. 
 Heed’s aid and directions, we experimented on a sheep dog. The 
 dog was bitten on the left ear about nine o’clock one morning. 
 Symptoms of virus poisoning and vomiting set in in about an hour 
 and a half. Heart irregular and pupils becoming dilated. Injected 
 five minims of antidote. Repeated it at 2 p.m. Dog seemed better, 
 and eat and drank. Next day, although weak, the dog was 
 lively ; when let off the chain, ran about and hunted with the other 
 dogs. On the following day bad symptoms set in again ; injected 
 antidote several times ; notwithstanding, the dog died on the fourth 
 day. 
 
 It is believed that, if the remedy had been applied simultaneously 
 or immediately after the bite, the dog would have been saved. 
 Besides, in dogs bitten by tiger snakes, deaths occur in an average 
 about two hoars afterwards. The inventor of the antidote is 
 William Lucro^t, who has been bitten some sixteen times, and his 
 remedy has not failed him. On one occasion Mr. Reed saw him 
 a few minutes after he (Lucroft) had been bitten.