CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE OOLOGY OF THE AUSTRO- 

 MALAYAN AND PACIFIC REGIONS. 



By a. J. North. 



Under this heading I purpose to describe the eggs of svich 

 species from the above-named regions, as I may consider of 

 sufficient interest to Oologists ; such will necessarily be from 

 various sources, and in the jjresent instances I am indebted to the 

 courtesy of the Trustees of the Australian Museum, the Hon. 

 Wm. Macleay, and Messrs. Ramsay Bros, of Dobroyde, for access 

 to their collections. 



Strix lulu, Peel. 



This egg was obtained by Mr. Boyd at Ovalau ; it is similar in 

 foi'm to that of the Australian species, *S'. delicatula, pitre white, 

 shell slightly rough. Length, 1-53 x 1'22 inch. 



Macropteryx mystacea. Less. 



A single egg of this species taken at New Britain by Mr. 

 Parkinson, is oval in form, pure white, shell smooth, but without 

 any gloss; long axis 1-3 inch, short axis 0'83 inch. The parent 

 birds were also procured. 



Merops ornatus, Lath. 

 Specimens of this bird together with the eggs procured at New 

 Britain by Mr. Parkinson, are similar to the Australian forms, 

 differing only in their smaller admeasurements. Eggs rounded, 

 white and glossy. An average egg measures — long axis 0'85 inch ; 

 short axis 77 inch. 



Halcyon sacra, Ginel. 



This bird was found by Mr. J. A. Boyd, breeding freely at 

 Ovalau, tunnelling in the nests of the white ants. Eggs five in 

 number for a sitting, globular in form, pure white, the texture of 



