DESCRIPTIONS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS' EGGS. 



By Dr. E. Pierson Ramsay, RR.S.E , M.R.I.A., &c. 



(Plate XIX., tigs. 1-3, 5 and 6.) 



At the request of several of my friends in the country, who are 

 interested in Australian Oology, but have not access to collections 

 containing authentic specimens of eggs, I beg to submit the 

 following descriptions of such as are rare, or, in my own opinion, 

 have been imperfectly or incorrectly described. 



Astur radiatus, Lath. 



I take the following description from my note book, under date 

 October 11th, 1884, p. 25. 



' The egg of Astur radiatus, just received from Mr. Barnard, of 

 Coomooboolaroo, in the Dawson River District, Queensland, 

 is much like a large egg of Astur apjtroximans or that of Aquila 

 morphnoides. It is of a dull white, roundish, with a few 

 blackish brown smears and blotches, and irregular markings and 

 dots of a slightly darker shade ; the shell is slightly rough. 

 Length 2*2 inches, diameter 1*8 inches.' (No. 147). 



Astur approximans, Viy. and Horsf. 

 The eggs in set No. A, are of a long narrcw oval ; colour dull 

 white, smeared with yellowish-buff; length 1*74 inches by 1*3, 

 inches. A second set, No. B, show smears to a less extent, and 

 there are a few scattered spots of a deep reddish-brown ; form 

 a round-oval. Length 1*75 inches x 1*4 inches in breadth. 

 (Note-book, 1880-1, p. 5.) 



Haliastur sphenurus, Vieill. 



Egg roundish, white, with a slightly bluish tinge on the inner 

 surface of the shell, with numerous dots, a few spots and 



