410 COI^TEIBUTIOXS TO ArSTEALIAI?" OOLOGY, 



50. OcTPHAPS LOPHOTES, Temm. 



The eggs are of a delicate dull bliiisli- white, oval, long diameter 

 L'i6 in. ; short diameter 0*85 ; others measure 1"14 x 0"88 ; they 

 vary from long to round ovals. — (From K. H. Bennetfs Coll.) 



51. GrLAEEOLA GEALLAEIA, Temm. 



The home of the Australian Pratincole is the interior of Xew 

 South "Wales and the northern portion of the Province of South 

 Australia, it is also found occasionally during the wet seasons in 

 the neighbourhood of Cape York and Port Darwdn. In ISTew 

 South "Wales I have received specimens from the Lachlan and 

 Darling RiA'^ers, and Mr. James Ramsay has noticed it at 

 Tyndarie in the Bourke district. Mr. E. Gr. Yickery has kindly 

 permitted me to describe an egg from his collection, taken near 

 Wilcania on the Darling Biver, in Sept., 1880. He informs me 

 that the parent bird was seen to fly from the eggs, and before 

 they were taken, to return again and sit on the nest, so I think 

 there can be little doubt of their authenticity. The eggs were 

 three in number, the ground colour is of a creamy- white, dull 

 light stone-brown, or light buff, well covered with irregularly 

 shaped blotches, dots, and spots, and freckles of dull umber and 

 sienna brown, with a few dots and dashes almost black, and 

 obsolete spots here and there of slaty-grey ; length 1*3 in. x 1 in.; 

 in shape they are slightly oval, slightly swollen at the thicker end 

 and not pointed. An egg of this species in the collection of Mr. 

 K. H. Bennett, measures 1*24 x 0"95 inches ; none differ materi- 

 ally from Mr. Vickery's specimens. Mr. Bennett informs me 

 that they select a bare spot on the ground where the earth or 

 sand assimilates to the colour and markings of the eggs. They 

 breed during October. 



52. Endromias austealis, Gould. 



The habitat of the species is the interior portion of the Province 

 of South Australia, and the interior of New^ South "Wales, but as 



