258 N/iSTS AXV EGGS Of AUSTRAL/AN BIRDS. 



in the same locality — about a quarter-of a-mile iu circumference — where 

 it finds its food, lives and sleeps, constantly guarded by a faithful wife, 

 who always lets her lord know, by two rapid notes as an answer to his 

 speaking call, that she is there. Strong in love, the male is most 

 jealous ; I saw on one occasion at Cooyar, south of the Bunya Moim- 

 tains, where two males had been fighting furiously, with the result 

 that both foimd their death, one lying on the top of a little bush, the 

 other uudcrueath on the gi'ound. 



" It is sometimes hard to find the nest iu the dense undergi'owth, 

 especially if the stmctm-e is hidden amongst liuge nettles, which, in 

 most cases, spring up after the scrub has been cleared. The compact 

 nest vrill be found near the ground where the many stems of small 

 bushes unite. Rai-ely have I found the nest placed higher than four 

 feet from the ground. As may be expected, the material of the nest 

 is a conglomerate of scmb i-ubbish, such as decayed string-like bark; 

 the filUng-in is dark rootlets. There are two broods, October and 

 December ( ?)." 



Breeding months from July to December, but principally the last 

 thi'ee months. 



Young Coach-wliip Birds have been known to leave their nest 

 before being able to fly. 



The illustration given of the Coach-whip Bird's nest was taken 

 under rather disadvantageous circumstances, namely, in the blazing sun 

 among prickly lawyer vines. 



218. PSOPHUDES NIGKOGULAEIS, Gould. (183) 



BLACK-THROATED WHIP BIRD. 



Figure.— Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iii., pi. i6 

 Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. vii., p. 351. 



Previous Description of Eggs. — North : Victorian Naturalist, vol. xvi., 

 p. II 11899) 



Geographical Distributiun. — West Australia. 



Nesf. — Similar to that of the other Coach-wliip Bird and similarly 

 situated — low down, in scrub. 



Eggs. — Clutch, two ; inclined to oval in shape ; textm'c of shell 

 fine; surface glossy; colour, pale or delicate greenish-wliite, boldly but 

 sparingly marked with sepia, almost black, and dull grey ; the markings 

 are inclined to be more numei-ous on the apex, and some are irreg^arly 

 shaped or hieroglyphic-Ukc. Dimensions in inches of the type clutch : 

 (1 — long oval) 1-2 x -78, (2 — round oval) 1-05 x -77. Altogether these 

 egg possesses a characteristic resemblance to those of the Eastern Coach- 

 whip Bird, except that the ground-colour is of a Hghter shade. 



