1148 DESCRIPTIONS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS* EGGS, 



dispersed over the country to the north, but is replaced in the 

 Gulf districts by its near ally P. atrojiygialis. It nests in the 

 long grass and Pandanus bushes. Lays five eggs of a bluish 

 white, elongated in form. Length 0'7 x 048 inch ; 072 x 0'5 

 inch. We have at present, among others, both P. cincta and P. 

 longicauda breeding in our aviaries. 



POEPHILA GOULDLE, Gould. 



This species and the one known as P. mirabilis have been found 

 breeding in company upon numerous occasions. Both are plentiful 

 inland from the Gulf district to Derby in West Australia. The 

 nest is similar to others of the genus, composed of dry grasses 

 without any other lining. The eggs are white, slightly pyriform 

 in shape. Length (1) 0-64x049 inch; (2) 1-65x0-5 inch. 

 Five are laid for a sitting. (From Dr. Hurst's Coll.) 



Estrelda phaeton, Bomb, et J acq. 



The eggs here described were taken by Mr. J. Rainbird in 1864, 

 from some of the nests at that time common on extensive grass 

 lands near Port Denison. The nest is like all others of the family, a 

 flask-shaped structure of grasses, with a long narrow entrance, 

 placed on its side in any convenient place, either in Pandanus 

 trees or adjacent shrubs, or among the stronger of the grass stems. 



The eggs, 4 or 5 for a sitting, are small in comparison with the 

 size of the birds ; lenc;th 0'65 x 0*45 inch in breadth. 



i &' 



Orthonyx temminckii, ~Vig. and Borsf. 



0. sjnnicaudtcs, Temm. 



Mr. Gould in his Handbook has already described the nest of 

 this species, which is usually known under the name of 0. sjrini- 

 caudus. Nests obtained by my collectors in the Richmond River 

 scrubs in 1865-6, were all placed on the ground at the base or 

 between the " buttresses " of trees, and composed of mosses and 

 debris of leaves, &c. Eggs white, large comparatively, 1*13 x 35- 

 inch. 



