37 



OcYDROMUS SYLVESTRis, Sclater. The Wood-hen. 



" Wood-hen." Inhabitants of Lord Howe Island. 



This bird is found breeding in the most rugged and inacces- 

 sible portions of the Island, such as the Erskiue Valley, 

 between Mount Ledgbird and Mount Gower. Here the rough 

 character of the country, consisting of huge boulders of granite 

 almost hidden in a dense and luxuriant mass of sub-tropical 

 vegetation, atibrds it a secure retreat. The nest in question, was 

 found last October at the head of the Erskine Valley, and con- 

 sisted merely of a depression in a thick debris of fallen leaves, 

 under the shelter of a low bush. The eggs four in number 

 vary in shape from ovals to lengthened ovals, being slightly pointed 

 at one end, and are of a dull white, with minute dots and large 

 irregular shaped markings of light chestnut-red more or less 

 scattered over the surface of the shell, obsolete markings of tiie 

 same colour predominating towards the larger end, they are 

 not unlike very large specimens of Hypotwnidia philippensis 

 (Rall'us pectoralis), but the markings are paler and not so well 

 defined. Length (A) 1-9 x 1-32 inch; (B) 1-88 x 1-36 inch ; 

 (C) 1-95 X 1-3 inch ; (D) 2 inches x 1'32 inch. Mr. Iccly 

 remarks that this is the first time that any of the present 

 inhaljit;ints of the Island have seen the eggs of the Wood-hen, 

 or had heard of them beini;' taken.* Plate i., fief. 3. 



NOTES ON THE NIDIFICATION OF HETEROMYIAS 

 CIjVEEEIFRONS A^Ti ORTIIONYX SPALDING I, RAMSAY, 

 FROM THE CAIRNS DISTRICT, NORTH-EASTERN 

 QUEENSLAND; and on STERNULA SINENSIS, GMELIN, 

 FROM THE TWEED RIVER, NEW SOUTH WALES. 



By a. J. North. 



Hetekomyias cinereifrons, Ramsay. Ashy-fronted Flycatcher. 



" Win-dan." Aborigines of Cairns District. 



During September and October of 1889, several nests of 

 this species were obtained by Messrs. Cairn and Grant, in the 

 scrubs of the Herberton tableland, in every instance they were 

 found in the " lawyer vines " (a species of Calamus), about four or 



*P.L.S., N.S.W., 2nd Ser., Vol. iv., Dec, 1889. 



