272 



NESTS A.VD EGGS OE AUSTRALIAN BINDS. 



them sei-ving as a donnitory wherein the whole company take their 

 night's rest, save those busy incubating during breeding season. The 

 formidable nest with hole inside possesses a cosy interior made up of 

 dry grass, rootlets, and fui' from different animals. Its site is about ten 

 feet from the gi'ound, either in a little tree or in the hanging branches 

 of a cucalypt. I have never seen more than two eggs, although others 

 assure me tliey have seen three or more. Water will remove the 

 veined chocolate markings of the eggs." 



The late Mr. G. Bateman (an old bird trapper) observed that the 

 Babblers " go in families, breed in pairs, but all use one nest in winter." 



Dr. Ramsay records : — " The number of eggs in a nest varies from 

 five to ten. My brother, James Ramsay, informs me that he has taken 

 no less than fourteen from one nest, and in these cases believes them 

 to be the joint property of several birds; the usual number, however, 

 is five." 



I have taken eggs in September, October and November. The 

 breeding season, however, may be said to include the months from 

 August to December. 



In the columns of "The Australasian,' 27th June, 1896, 

 Mr. G. E. Shepherd, Somei'ville, bi-ought imder notice the valuable 

 work performed bj- Babblers, which he has seen persistently destroying 

 the larvse of the pestilent codlin moth. However, it is feared these 

 wild and restless birds will need much encouragement to come about 

 orchards or the habitations of man. 



The illustration of the Babbler's nest is from one situated in a 

 casuarina branch. 



221. — PoM.\TORHiNus suPERCiLioscs, Vigors and Horsfield. — (294) 

 WHITE-BROWED BABBLER. 



Fi<;iiye.— Gould: Birds of Australia, fol., vol. iv., pi. 22. 



Reference.- Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol vii., p. 419. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs: — Gould: Birds of Australia (1848); also 



Handbook, vol. i., p. 483 (1S65) : Ramsay; Trans. Phil. Soc, 



N S. Wales, with pi. (1865). 



Geogrnjihiral Dintrihutioii. — Austraha in general. 



Xexf. — Similar to that of P. laiiporalix, but proportionally smaller ; 

 bulky, dome-shaped, with hooded side entrance; constructed of sticks; 

 lined inside with such soft materials as portions of flowers, feathers, 

 grass, bark and wool. Usually placed in a low tree or bush. 



Ee/e/a. — Clutch, throe to five; stout oval; texture of shell fine; 

 surface slightly glossy ; colour, lightish grey, clouded with a dark colour 

 and usually streaked with fine hair-like lines of dark-brown or sepia. 

 Dimensions in inches of a pair: (1) 99 x -66, (2) 95 x 67 ; a smaller- 

 sized set of three : -9 x -65 inches each. (Plate 11.) 



