(iUALLINA. 91 



The eggs are usually four in number for a sitting, sometimes five, and \ary considerably 

 in shape, size, colour, and disposition of markings. The most common type found is oval in 

 form, tapering somewhat sharply at the smaller end, and of a reddish-white ground colour, 

 spotted and blotched with purplish-red and underlying markings of slaty-grey, in some instances 

 forming a zone or cap on the larger end, in others being equally distributed over the shell. 

 Some eggs are of a rich reddish-buff ground colour, which is almost hidden on the larger end 

 with numerous confluent blotches of reddish-brown and clouded underlying patches of violet- 

 grey. Others are o^■al in form and pure white, with a few small rounded purplish-black dots 

 evenly distributed over the shell, and I have seen two sets pure white and entirely devoid of 

 markings. Among a great number of eggs of this species now before me, it is noticeable that 

 those obtained in the ^•ery hot inland districts of New South Wales are smaller, less rich in 

 colour, and more sparingly marked than others tal<en in the cooler parts of the State, near the 

 coast. iV set of three measures: — Length (A) 1-25 x 0-87 inches; (B) 1-22 x 0-85 inches; (C) 

 f2ixo-85 inches. A set of four measures: — (A) i'iixo-8 inches; (B) 1-05 xo-s inches; 

 (C) IT X 0-83 inches; (D) it 2 x 0-82 inches. A remarkably handsome set of fi\e eg^s in the 

 Australian Museum collection, taken by Mr. G. Sa\idge at Copmanhurst, on the 8th October, 

 1901, measures as follows: — Length (A) it2 x o'83 inches; (B) IT3 x o'>!5 inches; (C) it x 0-82 

 inches; (D) it2xo-83 inches; (E) 1-07 x 0-82 inches. 



Fledgelings are similar to the adults but duller in colour, having dusky-brown instead of 

 bluish-black feathers on the upper parts and throat. Young birds have the tail feathers largely 

 tipped with white, and the outermost feather on either side entirely white except a small portion of 

 the outer web, and a subterminal streak on the margin of the inner web, which is brownish-black. 



Mr. G. .\. Keartland writes to me as follows: — "That GraUina picata is a most persistent 

 breeder was proved b}' Mr. J. Gabriel and myself during October and November, 1895. 

 Whilst collecting at Werribee, Mctoria, on 14th October, we found a nest containing four 

 fresh eggs, which I took. A fortnight later we revisited the tree to see if the birds had laid 

 again in the old nest, but to our surprise found a fresh nest built within four feet of the old one 

 and containing four eggs; these were taken by Mr. Gabriel. Again, a fortnight later, Mr. 

 Chas. French, Junr., accompanied me to the tree to look for an article lost on the previous 

 visit. We found another nest, containing four eggs, on the same branch as the former ones; 

 Mr. French took the eggs. Again, a fortnight later, I revisited the spot and found another 

 nest containing four eggs, which were left to hatch. As on the first visit I noticed a broken 

 primary in the wing of the female, I was careful to see that it w-as the same bird each time we 

 paid our fortnightly visit." 



Nidification, in which both se.xes take part, generally commences in August, and the usual 

 breeding season in Eastern Australia continues the five following months. I have, however, 

 taken eggs as early as the jrd .Vugust, and have seen these birds building on the banks ot the 

 Namoi River at the latter end of Noxember. In the Upper Clarence District, Mr. G. Savidge 

 informs me that he once observed young birds being fed in the nest in July. A new nest is 

 almost invariably constructed for each brood, of which two, if not three, are reared during the 

 season. The deserted tenements of the Magpie-Lark are often taken possession of by other 

 birds, and more frequently by the White-rumped Wood S\\a.\\o\w {Avtamus Icucogaster), the Ground 

 Cwckoo-slmke ( Ptcropodocys phasianclla),a.nd the Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike (Graucalus mdaiwps). 

 On Yandembah Station, the late Mr. K. H. Bennett found a Black and White Fantail 

 (Sauloprocta mdaleuca) sitting on three eggs in a deserted nest of this species, the bottom of 

 the nest having been relined with wool and fur. 



There is a beautiful albino, and a ssmi-albino of this species in the Australian Museum 

 collection. 



The figure represents an adult male. 



