408 ON THE NESTS AND EGGS OP CERTAIN AUSTRALIAN BIRDS, 



markings, but cliiefly towards the larger end, where they 

 form an ill-defined zone. Length (A), 0-65 x 0*5 inch ; (B), 

 0-65 X 0-48 inch; (C), 0-66 x 048 inch. 



POEPHILA ACUTICAUDA, Gould. 



Of this handsome bird, the late Mr. Boyer-Bower procured a 

 tine series, while collecting in North Western Australia. It breeds, 

 like its ally P. cincta of the Eastern Coast, in the long grass and 

 low bushes, building a flask-shaped nest of grasses, and laying 

 usually five eggs for a sitting. Eggs white, somewhat lengthened 

 in form, measuring as follows : — Length (A), 0-68 x 0-48 inch; 

 (B), 0-65 X 0-4 inch; (C), 0-69 x 0-46 inch; (D), 071 x 0-48 

 inch; (E), 65 x 0-43 inch. 



September and the three following months constitute the 

 breeding season of this species. 



ACANTHORHTNCHUS DUBIUS, Gould. 



Some ornithologists do not consider this a good species ; Mr. 

 Gould, himself, who first pointed out the difference from the 

 Northern and Eastern Australian Continental forms, inclining to 

 believe them identical ; but as the Tasmaniau bird is smaller in 

 all its admeasurements, and much richer and deeper in the tints 

 of the under surface, I give the description of a set of eggs taken 

 near Hobart, in October, 1885. 



Eggs two in number for a sitting, of a pale bufi", approaching a 

 light saturnine red on the larger end, where they are minutely 

 spotted with irregularly shaped markings of deep chestnut-brown, 

 and a few nearly obsolete spots of bluish-grey. Length 

 (A), 0-73 X 0-53 inch; (B), 0-75 x 0-54 inch. 



ZosTEROPS PLAVOGULARis, Masters. 



This very distinct and well-marked species was found tolerably 

 abundant at Cape York and the adjacent islands, by the members 

 of the ' Chevert' Expedition in 1875. 



A nest of this species now before me, taken by Mr. George 

 Masters at Warrior Island on the 27th of June, is a deep 



