151' E. P. RAMSAY, F.L.S. 55 



surface of the shell. The colour is of a bluish white, with here 

 and there a spot or smear of pale buff. — (Ausf. Mas., Syd.) 



I have also had an opportunity of examining three other eggs 

 of this species in Mr. AYhittell's Collection, w^hich do not differ 

 from those sent by Mr. Bennett. Lengths 2"7 x I '85 ; 2'73 x 

 1-85 ; 3-05 X 1'8. " The nest is rather a loose structure placed on 

 branches of trees overhanging the borders of swamps and lagoons 

 but sometimes placed on the ground by a tussock of grass or 

 herbage."— (Tr7////r//.; 



28. NlX'TICORAX CVLEDOXrCL'S, Latli. 



The nest is a loose structure of a few sticks placed crosswise 

 over forks on the branches of trees overhanging creeks, &c. ; 

 the specimens under consideration were taken by Mr. Alex. 

 Morton, from some low bushes on Schnapper Island, near Port 

 Stephens, they are two in number of a pale bluish green, in 

 length 2*1 x 1'55, and l"i7 inch in breadth. 



29. BOTAURUS AUSTRAL IS, C, 



uv. 



^ est made of sedges and herbage, placed like that of a Water 

 Hen's, near the ground on the margins of swamps and lagoons, 

 <fcc. The eggs in this instance were two in number of a very pale 

 olive brown without spots or markings ; length 2*1 x 1'5 inch. — • 

 (^From Mr. CampbelVs Collection). 



30. BUTOROEDES FLAVICOLLTS, Lath. 



The nest is a slight structure of sticks placed in a horizontal 

 branch over the water. Eggs three to four, they are white with 

 a very faint tint of greenish inside. Length 1*88 x 1*38 ; 1'72 x 

 1-35; 1-8 X 1-33. 



I expected to find these eggs something similar to those of the 

 next species, B. macrorhj/ncha, taken by my brothers at Dobroyde 

 in 1860-1-2, but Mr. Barnard assures me there can be no mistake 

 about them, and sent me a skin of the bird. — {Mr. Barnard's Col.) 



