NEXTS A.YD liCGS OF AUSTKAfJAX li/KP.S. 



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wirc-likc stems of a climbing plant, the latter being chiefly placed round the 

 side ; usuallv situated in dense sciiib, at a height of from twelve to 

 twenty-five feet from the ground. Dimensions over all, \'l inches long by 

 6 inches broad and 2 inclies tliick. (See illustration.) 



Eggs. — Clutch, two, sometimes three. In a clutch of two — (1) is 

 a beautiful, well-shaped specimen, with texture of shell fine and surface 

 slightly glossy ; colour, light yellowish-stone, with a faint greenish tinge, 

 marked with blotches and spots of sienna or olive-brown, but chiefly with 

 remarkable hair-like markings of the same coloiu% as if a person had 

 painted on the shell fanciful shapes and figiu-cs with a fine bni.sh. Inter- 

 mingled are a few dull gixyish streaks. All the markings are fairly 

 distributed, being more abundant round the upper quarter ; (2) is similar 

 to the other specimen, but markings are less pronounced and finer in 

 character, with a gi'eater proportion of dull grc\'ish, hair-like streaks. 

 Dimensions in inches: (1) 1-57 x M, (2) l-.'55 x 1-07. (Plate 10.) 



A second clutch is similar to the above, but has markings like a net>- 

 work all over, and finer or more hair-like in character. Dimensions in 

 inches: (1) 1-58 x 1-06, (2) 1-52 x 1-04. 



The eggs of the Regent Bird resemble, in a remarkable degree, those 

 of the Spotted Bower Bird (Chlaniyileru iiiacdiat/i }, with the slight 

 difference that the giound-colour of the eggs of the fonner is usually more 

 yellowish in tone. 



Ohservafions. — The Regent Bird has a somewhat restricted range, being 

 cliiofly confined to the sub-tropical coastal scrubs of the northern portion 

 of New South Wales and Southern Queensland ; but its extreme southern 

 limit appe;u-s to be Port Jackson in the south, where the bird has been 

 occasionally observed, and the Fitzroy River in the north. With regard 

 to the latter locality, Mr. George Potts, jun., Rockhampton, wrote : — 

 " A few Regent Birds have made their appearance during this month 

 (December. 1885) and the latter end of last." I have also recorded having 

 received a skin of a young male from Duaringa, near that river. 



Tlie Regent Bird, especially the adult male with glorious black and 

 yellow plumage, Gould has well said is one of the finest of Australian 

 birds. The youthful male resembles the female ; the second year the bill 

 is yellowish ; the tlurd or fourth year the plumage is complete. 



In November, 1891, I undertook an excur.sion to the Richmond River 

 district. New South Wales, with a \new of obtaining, amongst other items, 

 the eggs of the Regent Bird. I was all the more anxious to obtain them, 

 because the only descriptions (by Messrs. Ramsay and North) then 

 existing were taken from a single and possibly immature egg which was 

 removed from the oviduct of a bird shot by Mr. James Cockerell, the 

 collector, many years ago. 



I found the luxuriant scrubs abounding with Regent Birds, in fact, 

 they were as plentiful there as the Wattle Birds ( Acanthochara ) about the 

 banksia gi-oves of our southern coast. I experienced no difficulty in 

 procuring a few specimen skins, and all that was necessary was to select 

 a balmy day and rechne under a canthium tree, where the birds (males, 

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