g8 NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



is an instance. Collectors in Australia never by any chance get more than 

 three eggs to a clutch, wliile iu Tasmania Mr. A. E. Brent says it is a 

 common thing to take four eggs. He cites his last instance, 7th 

 November, 1893, when he took the quartet from a nest situated in a ch-y 

 fork of a gum-tree, near Mount Faulkner. 



October to December comprise the principal breeding months. 



76- — Graucalus hypoleucus, Gould. — (106 1. 



WHITE-BELLIED CUCKOO SHEIKE. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. ii., pi 57. 

 Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. iv., p. 36. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs — Ramsay; Proc. Linn. See,, N.S. Wales, 

 vol. vii., p. 40S, pi. 3, fig. II (1882): Campbell: Nests and 

 Eggs, Austn. Birds, p. 11 (1883); North: Austn. Mus Cat., 

 pi. 9, fig. 1 (1889). 



Geographical Distribution. — Northern Territory and Queensland, also 

 New Guinea and Aru Islands. 



Nest. — Like all those of the genus, a stnicture of wiry grasses, securely 

 fastened together by cob-webs, and placed in a horizontal bough, usually 

 over a forked branch ; it is very shallow, having but a slight depression, 

 just sufficient to hold the eggs, in the centre, and about 4 inches in 

 diameter outside (Ramsay). 



Efigs. — Clut<;h, two usually ; roundish oval in shape ; textm'e of shell 

 fine ; siu'face glossy ; colour, beautiful wannish-gi'een, boldly blotched or 

 mottled with rich reddish-brown and chestnut, also with pm-plish-brown. 

 Dimensions in inches of a clutch: (1) 1-04 x -73, (2) 1-0 x -75; of odd 

 examples: (long) 1-11 x -77, (round) 1-05 x -81. 



The eggs of this species are usually the smallest of the genus. 



Obsercatiuns. — This interesting bird is a northern species, but has been 

 observed as far south as the Dawson River district. Central Queensland, 

 by the Messrs. Barnard. It was to the late Mr. George Barnard I was 

 mdebted for the beautiful pair of eggs of the Wliite-bellied Cuckoo 

 Shrike that now grace my collection. At Coomooboolaroo, the breeding 

 season for this species is August to October, and sometimes later. 



77. — Graucalus mentalis. Vigors and Horsfield. — (105) 

 LITTLE CUCKOO SHRIKE. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. ii., pi 56. 

 Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus.. vol. iv., p. 37. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Campbell: Southern Science Record 

 (1882) : North : Austn. Mus. Cat., p. 75, pi. 9, fig. 3 (1889). 



Geographical Distribution. — Queensland, New South Wales. Victoria, 

 and South Australia. 



