iq6 nests a.vd eggs of Australian birds. 



colour. Dimensions in inches of a full clutch : (1) — a somewhat lengthened 

 example— 1-7 x 1-06, (2) 1-58 x 114, (3) 147 x 113 ; of a clutch of two : 

 (1) 1-58 X 1-03, (2) 1-5 x M. (Plate 9.) 



These eggs may be readily distinguished from those of the southern 

 Cat Bird by their smaller size and Ughter colouring. 



Observations. — To Australia belong two species of this pecuhar genus, 

 the one under notice being the northem and smaller representative of the 

 Cat Bird of New South Wales. The Herbert River, Mr. Broadbent 

 remarks, would appear to be the southern limit of the Spotted Cat Bird. 



My friend Mr. Dudley Le Souef, who has also explored the palm 

 scrubs of Northern Queensland — the domains of the Spotted Cat Bird — 

 and to whom I am indebted for a pair of eggs, taken 27th October, 1893, 

 says : — " The curious harsh note (not resembhng the cat-like cry of the 

 southern bird) of the Spotted Cat Bird was often heard in the scinib, 

 and several nests were found. They appear to prefer building near the 

 top of a slender tree, about fifteen feet from the gi-ound, although on one 

 occasion we found one within two feet, built on a creeper, but that was an 

 exception." 



The birds do not appear to be at all shy. Mr. Le Souef saw one 

 speared by a native in thick scrub. 



Mr. North states that during an excursion to the Bellenden-Ker 

 Ranges, Messrs. E. J. Cairn and Robert Grant, collecting on behalf of the 

 trustees of the Australian Museum, succeeded in obtaining, among others, 

 a fine series of Spotted Cat Birds in different stagc,<; of plumage, and, 

 besides finding several nests with young birds, they were fortunate in 

 obtaining a nest with two eggs. The nest and eggs were found in the 

 fork of a small sapling, about seven feet from the groimd, on the Herberton 

 road, at a distance of thirty-two miles from Cairns. Both parent birds were 

 secured at the time of taking the eggs, which were in an advanced state 

 of incubation. 



Breeding months August to January. 



Although these two species of Cat Birds are included in the Bower 

 Bird family, so far as observations have gone they do not build bowers, 

 nor have any particular playing-places been noticed by observers. Perhaps 

 they possess some insignificant plapng-placo — merely a bare spot of groimd, 

 with a few leaves placed thereon, like the play-gi-ound of the Tooth-billed 

 Cat Bu-d (Tertonornix) — or perchance the birds select a stump or log, 

 wliich they frequent to play, like the Rifle Bird fPtilnrhis). 



161. — ..(Elurcedus viridis, Latham. — (277) 



CAT BIRD. 



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



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vi., p. 385. 



Previous Descripticms of Eggs. — North: Records Austn. Mus-, vol. i., 



p. 3 (1891) ; Campbell : Proc. Roy Phys. Sec , Edin., vol. xiv , 



p. 19 (1898). 



Gengraphical Bisfrihufion. — South Queensland and New South Wales. 



