CIILAMVDODERA. 



47 



nest measures externally seven inches in diameter by two inches and a half in depth. The nesting- 

 sites usually selected are on horizontal branches, sometimes in a Lovanthus growing from the 

 upper side, or where a few thin upright leafy branchlets spring out; the crown of a low densely 

 foliaged tree; and in thick bushes. In Northern and North-western New South Wales, they 

 are usually found in the different species of eucalypti, leopard-trees, myalls, wilgas, pines, and 

 in the prickly " Wait-a-while," or Orange-bush (Capparis mitchclli). 



The eggs are usually two, sometimes three in number, and, like those of all the 

 species of this genus, are remarkable for the beauty of their markings. In shape they 

 vary from oval to elongate-oval, and in ground colour from a \ery delicate greenish-grey to 

 dull ochraceous-green, which is more or less covered with \\a\y irregular thread-like and 

 zig-zag lines of umber and blackish -brown wound round and round the shell, intermingled witii 

 loops, scrolls, figures, and a few bold, thick wavy streaks of a darker hue, and similar hne 

 underlying markings, varying from dull violet to purplish -grey. Some specimens have the 







linear markings very distinct, appearing as if they had been placed on the shell with a pen 

 dipped in colours of various hues ; others have underlying clouded blotches of faint violet-grey, 

 and the markings on the outer surface consisting of thick, short, zig-zag, or wavy blurred 

 streaks. Some eggs have the markings uniformly and evenly distributed over the surface, 

 others have them confined principally to the larger end. Nearly all have a few bolder ink-like 

 streaks or spots on some part of the shell. In a specimen now before me, the linear markings 

 are ail blackish-brown, and overlie on the larger end a distinct cap formed of coalesced pale 

 umber-bro\vn blotches. Another has the surface markings very faint and uniformly distributed 

 over the shell in a network of delicate tracery. Three eggs from different sets measure as 

 follows: — Length (A) 1-55 x 1-03 inches; (B) i-65xi-o8 inches; (C)i-58xi-i inches. Two 

 sets of two measure respectively: — (A) 1-55 x ri inches; (B) 1-55 x i-og inches : — (A) 1-5 x 1-07 

 inches; (B) 1-52 x 1-07 inches. 



