SUPPLEMENT TO NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTR. BIRDS NORTH. 17 



pallidus, C. Jlahelliformis, L. plagosus, and L. basalis, so as to 

 conclusively determine to which species they belong ; but there 

 can be no doubt Dr. Hurst was right in ascribing the eggs obtained 

 by him and his friends to Cuculus insj^eratus, as it is the only 

 other species of Cuckoo found near Sydney, the eggs of which 

 we were until then unacquainted with. The eggs of this Cuckoo 

 are not unlike large specimens of those of Bhijyidtora albiscajm, 

 but the bluish-grey sub-surface markings predominate more than 

 in those of the White-shafted Fantail ; they are a thick ovoid in 

 form, of a creamy white ground colour, thickly spotted and blotched 

 with yellowish-brown markings, intermingled with others of a 

 dull bluish-grey, becoming larger on the thicker end of the egg, 

 where they are confluent and form a well defined zone. Length 

 (A) 0-72 X 0-5.3 inch ; (B) 0-7 x 0-58 inch ; (C) 0-7.3 x 0-58 inch ; 

 (D) 0-73 X 0-56 inch ; (E) 0-7 x 0-53 inch. 



With the exception of Northern Australia, this species is very 

 sparingly dispersed over the remainder of the Continent in favour- 

 able situations. 



Centropus phasianus, Latham. Swamp Pheasant. 



Gould, Handbk. Bds. Austr., Vol. i., sp. 388, p. 634. 



Mr. Charles Barnard, of Coomooboolaroo, Dawson River, 

 Queensland, has kindly sent the following notes : — 



" On the 15th of February, 1891, T found a nest and three 

 eggs of Centropus phasianus. The nest was built about fifteen 

 inches above the ground in some high broad-bladed grass, the tops 

 of which were drawn down and loosely interwoven into the shape 

 of a ball of about eight inches internal diameter, with a round 

 hole in one side for entrance and another at the opposite side as 

 a means of exit. The bottom of the nest was thickly padded with 

 " Blood-wood*" leaves, which extended through the entrance and 

 on to the bent down grass outside the nest in the shape of a 

 platform. The nest was built against the stem of a small tree, I 

 think for protection, as the grass all round appeared equally suit- 

 able for nesting in." 



Mr. J. A. Boyd of the Herbert River, Queensland, informs me 

 that a nest of this species was obtained on his plantation on the 

 16th of December, 1891, containing five eggs, and another on the 

 30th instant, with five young ones in it. In both instances these 

 nests were constructed in the lower leaves of the Screw Palm, 

 (Pandanus aqtiaticus). 



Three of the above set of eggs are rounded in form, white, and 

 nest-stained, the shell having a thin calcareous covering making 

 the surface perfectly smooth, which is dull and lustreless ; in some 

 places are scratches which appear to have been done by the parent 

 bird while sitting, revealing the true character of the shell under- 



* Eucalyptus corymbosa. 



