86 NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Eggs. — Clutch, three to four ; almost oval in shape ; texture of 

 shell fine and thin ; surface slightly glossy ; coloiu', a Light pinkish 

 shade, or of a dehcate pinkish blush, sparingly and softly spotted 

 with pinkish-red and piu-ple, also with a few spots of chestnut, 

 all the markings being more numerous about the larger end. In 



others the siuiace is covered with larger markings, tlie pinkish ones 

 being more irregularly-shaped or wavy, with confluent patches on the 

 apex. In some others the mai'kings are not so red or pinkish, 

 being more of a dark-umber, with the sub-surface mai-kings pm-plish-slate. 

 Dimensions in inches of a proper clutch: (1) 1-27 x -85, (2) 1-24 x -83, 

 (3) l'19x-83; of a set of smaller-sized examples: (1) ri2 x 'TS, 

 (2) 1-05 x -75, (3) 1-03 x -75, (4) 1-03 x -75. In a series the sizes mil be 

 found to vary considerably. The eggs are exceedingly beautiful, and at 

 first sight some resemble a light-coloiu:ed variety of the better-known eggs 

 of the Friar Bird (Philemun corniculatus). However, in some examples 

 the ground-coloiu" may be said to be almost white. (Plate 6.) 



Observations. — The Drongo Shrike has been observed in all the States, 

 except South and West Australia, its true home, however, being the 

 northern forests and sci-ubs, where its harsh noisy notes once heard are 

 never to be forgotten. The bird appears to be a partial migi-ant, 

 occasionally wandering as far south as Tasmania, where it was first 

 recorded in 1888. Specimens taken in Eastern Gippsiand, Victoria, 1885, 

 are in the National Museum and in the collection of birds of the Govern- 

 ment Entomologist, Melbom-ne, while Mr. C. C. Brittlebank saw a bird 

 answering the description of the Drongo in the Lerderberg Ranges, 

 Victoria, November, 1893. 



In the Northern Territory Gilbert discovered several nests of the 

 Drongo. He recorded : — " I found five nests on the 1 6th of November, 

 all of which contained young birds, some of them nearly able to fly, and 

 others apparently had just emerged from the shell. The whole of these 

 nests were exactly alike and formed of the same material — the dry, wu'v 

 climbing stalks of a common parasitic plant, without any kind of lining ; 

 they were exceedingly difficult to examine, from being placed on tlie 

 weakest part of the extremities of horizontal branches of a tliickly-foliaged 

 tree, at an altitude of not less than thirty feet from the ground ; they 

 were of very shallow fonn, about 5i inches in diameter; three nests 

 contained three, and the other two four young birds each." 



The eggs of the Drongo I was privileged first to describe, composed a 

 set of foiu" taken at Wonga AVallan, South Queensland, by a collector of 

 Mr. A. Coles, the , taxidermist. 



Mr. North records that Mr. C. C. L. Talbot found on Collaroy Station, 

 Broad Sound, Queensland, one day (10th October), no less than twelve 

 nests of the Drongo, placed in trees about fifty yards apart. Each nest 

 contained three eggs — in some instances fi'esh, others partly incubated. 



Mr. Harry Barnard, at Cape York, December, 1896, took two nests, 

 each containing three eggs, and in Januaiy following ten nests with each 

 three eggs, except in two instances of four. 



Breeding season October to January. 



