1.32 



NESTS AND EGGS OF AVSTKALIAN BIRDS. 



leaves, a little moss, and all round the nests were fastened pieces of white 

 spider cocoons and a few of the softer gi-een-coloured cocoons made by other 

 varieties of spiders. They gave the nests a curious appearance. All the 

 inside was lined with very fine black rootlets and tendrils, having the 

 appearance of horse-hair." 



Gould received his infonnation (and possibly specimens of the birds) 

 from Mr. James Cockerill, the collector, who stated that the bird is 

 abundantly dispersed over the Cape York Peninsula, where it is a 

 stationary species, breeding on the edge of the scrubs. Mr. Cockerill also 

 secured the eggs for Gould, which the latter described. 



There is no doubt that tliis fine Flycatcher is numerous in that region, 

 because Mr. Hany Barnard took there, at the end of January, 1897, 

 no less than thirteen nests, each containing a pair of eggs. He also took 

 a nest as late as March, with two eggs. 



Breeding season October to March. The Doctors of the British 

 Museum have placed this and similar species under the genus 

 Piezorhynchus, but if the study of oology be taken into account, I tliink 

 they should have been retained under Gould's classification, Monarcha. 

 Moreover the eggs of Piezorhynchus nitidus are totally different from those 

 of either M . melanops, M. gouldi, or M. alhiventris. 



107- — Monarcha leucotis, Gould. —(154) 

 WHITE-EARED FLYCATCHER. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., supp-, pi. 12. 

 Reference.— Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. iv., p. 423. 



Gengraphical Distribution. — Queensland and New South Wales; also 

 Louisiade Archipelago. 



Nest and Eggs. — Undescribed. 



Observations. — The original specimen of the Wliite-eared Flycatcher 

 was secured by the naturalist, Macgillivray, who obtained it at Dimk 

 Island, Rockingham Bay. A second specimen was prociu-ed by him at 

 Cape York. 



The discovery of the nest and eggs of this rare Flycatcher is looked 

 forward to by collectors vnth more than ordinary interest. 



108. — Monarcha melanopsis, Vieillot. — (152) 



BLACK-FACED FLYCATCHER. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. ii., pi. 95. 

 Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. iv., p. 430. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Ramsay: Ibis, p. 302 (1865); North: 

 Austn. Mus. Cat., pi. 9, fig 9 (1889). 



Geographical Distribution. — Northern Territory, Queensland, New 

 South Wales, and Victoria; also New Guinea. 



