106 PRIONOPID.B. 



^T^HIS insular form of Graucalus mclanops, known all o\-er Tasmania as the "Summer-bird," 

 -L can only be distinguished from examples obtained on the Australian continent by its 

 smaller bill and slightlv darker grey upper parts. 



While resident at Table Cape, on the north-western coast of Tasmania, Mr. E. D. Atkinson 

 sent me the following note: — "Graucalus parvirostris arrives at, and disappears from here, about 

 the same time as the known migrants, but I am not sure whether it leaves the island or winters 

 inland. I first noticed its appearance in 18S9, on the 22nd September. It is distributed all 

 along the coast country with which I am acquainted, and I haxe met with it on Robbin's 

 Island and Walker Island, in Bass Strait." Recently Mr. Atkinson has noticed its arrival at 

 Waratah. at the foot of Mount BischofT, in September. 



From Dr. Lonsdale Holden's MS. notes, made while resident at Circular Head, on the 

 north-western coast of Tasmania, I have extracted the following information: — "On the 15th 

 February, 1887, I saw a flock of G. parvirostris among the low trees on the sea-shore, at the 

 mouth of the ISlack River. They were very noisy, and flying to and fro; perhaps a premigration 

 gathering. On the 12th September following I heard and saw one in the village paddock at 

 Circular Head for the first time that spring. In the following year, I saw them in July at 

 Circular Head; they were also observed at Boat Harbour in the sams month, and they are 

 said to be found all through the winter at Duck Bay. On the 8th September, 1889, I saw 

 one in some scrub at Green Hills; and sixteen days later a flock of a dozen flew over the little 

 township of Stanley, at Circular Head, from north to south; I thought they were newly arrived 

 migrants. 



"On the 14th November, 1886, I found a nest of this species, containing two fresh eggs, in 

 an isolated gum tree on the flat at Circular Head. It was built twenty feet from the ground, 

 in the fork of a terminal h'lrizontal bough, not concealed by foliage at all, and was easily seen, 

 although small for the size of the bird. It resembled a small saucer in shape, and was chiefly 

 made of twigs, old dry herbage, and cobwebs, and lined inside with dry grass. The birds 

 were very bold, and flew close to me, uttering their peculiar mewing cry; and even after their 

 nest was destroyed, the birds kept flying about its site. Meanwhile they were persecuted by a 

 family of Strong-billed Honey-eaters, which were among the trees, and kept boldly flying at the 

 "Summer-birds." On the 2nd December, 1886, I found another nest, containing two slightly 

 incubated eggs. The nest was on the horizontal fork of a dead branch, about fifteen feet from 

 the ground, overhanging the South Road on the neck of Circular Head Peninsula. It was 

 made of twigs and cobwebs, and so slight that one could see the eggs through the bottom of it. 

 The Rev. H. D. Atkinson found a nest with two fresh eggs, on the 28th November, 1887, not 

 far from the one taken by me in the same month of the previous year. On the 30th November, 

 1888, I also found one near the same spot, containing a perfectly fresh egg." 



Since Dr. Holden's removal to Bellerive, near Hobart, on the south-eastern part of the 

 island, he has noted solitary individuals in that neighbourhood in Juno and August, 1899. -^ 

 series of skins of this species in the Australian Museum collection, was procured by Mr. J. 

 Masters at the Ouse River in April. 1867. 



The eggs are two or three in number for a sitting, and in form and colour are indistinguish- 

 able from those of G. melauops. .Ml, however, I have seen are not nearly so lustrous as those of 

 the continental species. Two eggs, taken by Dr. Holden at Circular Head, in 1886, are 

 of a dull apple-green ground colour, which is spotted and blotched with different shades of 

 brown, and underlying markings of dull violet-grey; the markings are almost evenly distributed 

 over the surface of the shell, but are somewhat larger and darker on the thicker end. Length: — 

 (A) 1-27 X 0-9 inches; (B) 1-26 x 0-91 inches. Another egg from the same locality is more 

 rounded in form, the dull green ground colour is distinctly shaded with olive, and the spots and 

 blotches vary in colour from rich to pale umber-brown. Length: — i'25xo-95 inches. Three 



