1^6 NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



111. — Petrceca campbelli, Sharpe. 

 WESTERN SCARLET-BREASTED ROBIN. 



Riference.—lhis, p. 303 (1899). 



Previous Descnj>tion of Eggs. — Le Souef : Ibis, p, 45S (1900). 



Geographical Distribution. — West Australia. 



Nest and Eggs. — Undescribed, but in all probability similar to those 

 of P. leggii. (Sec appendix.) 



Observations. — Upon my return from a collecting torn- in Western 

 Australia, 1890, I forwarded to the British Museum a few birds' skins 

 for identification. Among them was a male Scarlet Robin which I shot 

 in the vicinity of Albany — tliis Dr. Sharpe has separated from the eastern 

 form, from wliich it diiicrs in minor points, chiefly in the smalhiess 

 of the wliitc cap upon tlie forehead and there being less white on the wings, 

 under the specific name of cainphelli. The aboriginal name is " goo-ba." 

 Gould himself pointed out that a slight difference existed in the depth of 

 colouring of specimens of Scarlet Robins from the western and eastern 

 coasts, those of the former, particularly the females, having the scarlet more 

 briUiant and to a greater extent than those from New South Wales and 

 Tasmania. 



In Western Austraha I also saw a curious hisus riaturce of the Scarlet- 

 breasted Robin. Tlie breast remained red, but the rest of the plumage 

 was piu-e white, except a brown feather or two on the shoulders. The 

 bill and feet were oddly and conspicuously black. 



112. — Petrceca phcenicea, Gould. — (167) 

 FLAME-BREASTED ROBIN. 



Figure — Gould ; Birds of Australia, fol , vol iii., pi. 6. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. iv,, p. 166. 



Previous Descriftions 0/ Eggs.— Goxdd: Birds of Australia (1848), also 



Handbook, vol. i., p. 282 (1865); North: Aust. Mus. Cat., 



p 104 (1889). 



Geographical Distribution. — South Queensland, New South Wales, 

 Victoria, South Australia. Tasmania, and intermediate islands in Bass 

 Strait. 



Nest. — Cup-shaped, soft and pliable ; composed of grass and very fine, 

 dark, thread-like roots of plants, coated outwardly with patches of spiders' 

 web of soiled appearance ; hned inside with fine grass and rootlets 

 with other soft vegetable matter on the bottom. Usually situated in the 

 hollow of a tree, cleft of rock, or on an abrupt bank of a creek in retired 

 localities. Dimensions over all, 3}, to 4 inches by 2\ inches in depth; 

 egg cavity, 1| inches across by 11 inches deep. 



Eggs. — Clutch, three, occasionally four ; inclined to oval in form ; 

 texture of shell fine ; surface without gloss ; colour, warm bluish or 



