A'ESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. iq:; 



f^'jy^- — Clutch, one usually ; inclined to an ellipse in shape ; texture of 

 shell fine ; surface slightly glossy ; coloui", delicate light-green, blotched and 

 spotted, especially round the apex, with umber and purplish-brown. 

 Dimensions in inches of single examples: (1) '96 x -7, (2) -91 x -66. 

 (Plate 7.) 



Observations. — On account of the pied-pliuuaged male of this species 

 being simllax to that of the preceding bird (the While-shouldered), a little 

 imcertainty exists amongst coUectors in distinguishing the two species in 

 the field, but if once handled and critically examined side by side thei'e 

 should be no further reason for confusing them. 



Authors, too, went astray over the Nortlunn Canipephaga (C. hint). 

 which has been proved to be an immatiu-e bird of the Pied or Black and 

 White Catei-pillar Eater (7^. hurjimeluna). 



The Pied Caterpillar Eater, although enjoying a northern habitat like 

 its White-shouldered compeer, does not come further south than New South 

 Wales, and has not been recorded for Western Austi-alia. 



Tlie first authenticated nest with egg, discovered by Mr. R. D. Fitzgerald, 

 was taken at Ballina, near the mouth of the Kichmond River (New South 

 Wales), 4th November, 1887. It was placed between a fork in a small 

 branch of a tea-ti'ce (Melahur/i j. and contained one egg. 



A beautifvd egg in the collection of Dr. Charles Ryan, Melboirme, was 

 taken by Mr. Hari-y Barnard at Cape York, 22nd November, 1896. 



Eggs of the Pied Caterpillar Catcher have also been taken in December. 



FAMILY— MUSCICAPID^ : FLYCATCHERS. 



82.— MicRCECA FASCINAN6, Latham. — 1149) 



BROWN FLYCATCHER. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. ii., pi. 93. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. iv.. p. 123. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Gould: Birds of Australia (1848), also 



Handbook, vol. i., p. 260 (1865); Ramsay: Trans Phil. Soc, 



N.S. Wales, with fig. (1865). 



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

 and South Australia. 



Ne.<<t. — Slight, shallow, composed of long pieces of very fine grass 

 covered with small shreds of bark and sometimes pieces of lichen stuck on 

 with spiders' web, and usually situated at the extremity of a dead hori- 

 zontal branch in a thin pronged fork. Dimensions over all, 2i to 2| inches 

 by 1^ to H inches in depth; egg cavity. If to 1| inches across by | inch 

 deep. 



Eggs. — Clutch, usually two, rare instances three; roundish in form, 

 more pointed at one end ; texture of shell fine ; surface without gloss ; 



