58 COXTEIBUTIONS TO AUSTRALIAN OOLOGY, 



Some eggs taken by Mr. Wliittell vary much in size. Length 

 (l.)2-lxl-55; (2.)2-2xl-63; (3.) 2-25 x I'oS ; (4) 2-15 x 1-53. 

 (^From Mr. Camphell and Mr. JVhittelVs Collections.) 



39. MaLACOEHYNCHTJS MEMBRANACErS, Lath. 



Eor a member of the Anatidce, this bird certainly selects the 

 most unique spots imaginable in which to make its nests. The 

 first instance was brought under my notice by Mr. K. H. Bennett 

 of Yandenbah, a most enterprising naturalist, to whom the 

 Australian Museum is indebted for several rare specimens. Mr. 

 Bennett informs me having occasion to visit a nest of the White 

 Tronted Heron, Ardea novce-liollandice., he w^as surprised to find it 

 much altered in appearance, and from the mass of down which 

 covered the whole of the upper part of the Heron's nest, the 

 duck flew off, leaving two ^%^,^, which with the nest have been 

 transmitted to the Museum ; the eggs unfortunately were broken 

 in transit, this deficiency however, is supplied by specimens taken 

 by Mr. "Whittell from a similar mass of dark slatey grey down, 

 which was placed on a flattened portion of a thick horizontal 

 bough about ten feet from the ground, overhanging the water, on 

 the bank of the Darling Eiver near Wilcannia ; in this instance 

 the eggs w^ere six in number of a rich light cream colour, rather 

 pointed ovals. Length 1*85 x 1'3 in. ; 1 82 x 1*3 in. 



The beautiful structure above mentioned, sent by Mr. Bennett 

 consisted of the platform of sticks which formed the nest of the 

 Heron being thickly covered with 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. — 

 {From Mr. K. R. JBennetfs Coll.) 



40. Casarca tadorin'oides, Jard. 



Mr. Whittell informs me that he found the nest of this species 

 placed on the ground behind a mass of Polygonum bushes, it 



I 



