^36 XESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Observations. — This smaller and plain-coloured Friar Bird is a dweller 

 in almost the whole of the great interior tract of Austraha suited to 

 its habits, except, perhaps, the north and north-west. 



My introduction to this species was in November, 1877, at 

 Wentworth, on the Darling River, where the birds, with chattering 

 voices, were ravishing the bell-shaped flowers of imported trees 

 ( I.aguiiai-ia) — known on Norfolk Island as the " cow-itcli " tree — that 

 bordered the sti-eets. On the Prince of Wales' birthday, when a picnic 

 of the townsfolk was being held up the river, having proceeded thither 

 by steamboat, I found my " record " nest, within reach, in a bough over- 

 hanging the river bed. The eggs, however, were mucli incubated. 

 Another nest I foimd subsequently was placed in a low box 

 (Eucalyptus), and contained a lovely fresh set of three richly coloiu'ed 

 eggs. 



From Mr. Hermann Lau's MS. I take : " Mocking Bird — P. rifreo- 

 giilaru. It is not unlike the ordinary species, with the exception of 

 being smaller and having no protuberance over the bill I'oot. Its nest 

 is more simply made from dry grass, with rootlets for a lining. The 

 site chosen for the cradle is the dense foliage of an apple-tree 

 ( Anc/opliora ). not high up. The number of eggs is always four. Found 

 in open forest on the Darling Downs, Tummaville, October, 1868. 



Breeding months, August to December. 



366. — Philemon citreogi'laeis (sub-species) sordidus, Gould. — (338) 

 LITTLE FRIAR BIRD. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. ix., p. 277. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Ramsay : Proc. Linn. See, N.S. 

 Wales, vol. vii., p. 52, pi. 3, fig. 16 (1SS2) ; North : Austn. 

 Mus. Cat., pi. 12, fig. 3 (18S9) ; North : Trans. Roy. .Soc, South 

 Australia, vol. xxii., p. 150 (1S98) ; Le .Soucf : Victorian 

 Naturalist, vol. xvi., p. 68 (1899). 



Gengraphical Distribution. — North-west Australia, Northern Terri- 

 tory, and North Queensland. 



-Vesi.— -Cup-shaped in form, and is outwardly constiiicted of dried 

 grass stems and long strips of very fine bark-fibre, held together with the 

 indumentum of some composite plant, the inside being Uned entirely 

 with dried grasses. Exterior measm'ements, 3J inches in diameter by 

 5.1, inches in depth; internal diameter. 1\ inches bv 3.V inches in depth 

 (North). 



Eggs.— Clutch, two to four ; inchned to oval in shape ; 

 texture of shell fine ; .surface verj- slightly glossy ; colour, pinkish 

 or pinkish-bufF, spotted and clouded with rafous-brown and purplisli- 

 brown of difi'erent shades, some of the dull-pui-plish (underlying) 

 markings being large and in-egularly shaped. Dimensions in inche.s 



