DICKURUS. 



85 



The eggs are usuallv three in number for a sitting, and as might be expected, vary as 

 much in shape, c(3lour, and character of markings as those of tile preceding species, from which 

 they cannot be distinguislied. In a number of sets now before me, ovals predominate in form, 

 others are slightly compressed towards the smaller end, and some are elongate-oval. The 

 ground colour presents even more variation tlian in the eggs of S. maxilhwis, for in addition 

 to the pale apple-green to dull olis'e-green and brown shades, dull bluish-whites are not 

 uncommon, and some specimens are almost white on the smaller end. .\s in the preceding 

 species, the ground colour of typical specimens is irregularly blotched, spotted, and freckled with 

 different shades of reddish-brown or purplish-red, many of the markings in some specimens 

 appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell. In one set the dull apple-green ground colour 

 assumes a reddish-brown hue on the larger end, where are several irregular-shaped penumbral 

 blotches of chestnut-brown, intermingled \\ith small dots antl spots of the same colour ; the 

 remainder of the shell, except for a few minute dots hardly visible to the naked eye, being 

 entirely devoid of markings. Another set, of a pale bluish -white ground colour, is most 

 minutely freckled all o\'er with \'ery pale purplish-red, and having on the larger end of the eggs 

 an irregular zone of small and slightly darker spots ; most of the markings on this set have a 

 faded and washed-out appearance, and resemble those on some varieties of the eggs of the 

 acclimatised Greenfinch (Fn'iigilla diloi'is). A set of three, taken on the 15th December, 1894, 

 measures as follows:— Length (.\) 1-23 x o-g inches; (I!) 1-3 x o-g inches; (C) 1-27 x 0-89 inches. 

 A set of three, taken on the 20th October, i8g4, measures:— (.\) 1-25 x 0-87 inches; (B) 1-23 x 

 0-86 inches; (C) 1-26 x 0-87 inches. An elongate-oval set, taken on the 20th November, 

 1894. measures:— Length (A) 1-4 x 0-85 inches; (B) 1-41 x 0-85 inches; (C) 1-41 x 0-84 inches. 

 All the above described eggs were taken by Mr. Robert Hislop, Junr., or Mr. Frank Ilislop, 

 while resident in the Bloomfield River District, North-eastern Queensland. 



Young males are duller in colour than the adults on the upper parts; the head is 

 brown, witli darker centres to the feathers, witli which are intermingled a number of black 

 feathers; all the under surface yellowish-white, slightly richer and brighter yellow on the 

 throat and fore-neck, most of the feathers on these parts and some on the sides of the body 

 being conspicuously streaked with dark brown down the centre ; under tail-coverts white. 

 Wing 5-5 inches. Slightly older birds have most of the feathers of the head and the ear-coverts 

 black; all the under surface bright yellow, the feathers of the throat having very narrow brown 

 shaft-streaks. 



Immature females have the feathers of the head dull brownish-white with distinct blackish- 

 brown streaks on the crown and nape; quills and upper wing-coverts dark brown, broadly 

 margined with greyish-white. Some adult females have the feathers of the head much lighter 

 than others, and the dark brown markings on the feathers of the under surface of an elongate 

 tear-shaped form on the lower breast and abdomen; under tail-co\-erts white, with brown shaft- 

 lines on some of the feathers. 



The figure represents an adult male. 



Family DICRURID^. 



O-enns IDIOISXJIS"CTS, Vieilht. 

 Dicrurus bracteatus. 



DRONGO-SHRIKE. 

 Dicrurui: bracteatus, Gould, Proc. Zool. Hoc, 1842, p. 1:V2; id., Bds. Austr., fol, Vol. IV., pi. 82 (1848). 

 Chibia bracteata, Gould, Haadbk. Bds. Austr., A^ol. I., p. 23.5 (1865); Sharpe, Gat. Bds. Brit. 



Mas., Vol. III., p. 23fi (1877). 

 Dicruropsis bractp.ata, Salvad., Orn. Pap. et Moluoc, Pt. II., p. 174 (1881). 



