526 



NESTS AXD EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BTRDS. 



In the Big Sciiib, Richmond River district, one frequently hears the 

 strong, whistle-like " want a watch ' call of the I'itta, the " watch " 

 being sounded a third or fourth liighcr than the other two notes. 



I only succeeded in finding two empty nests, at least my companion, 

 who had seen Pittas' nests, said they belonged to this bird. One was' 

 a half-open structure composed of moss and leaves, backed up against 

 an outcrop of rocks. 



The examples of Pitt«'s eggs in my collection were found in the 

 Big Scnib by Mr. J. C. Gordon, December, 1891. Tliere were three 

 fresh eggs in the nest. He wrote: — "The nest was built in the spur 

 of a buoyong tree, .and was composed on the outside, first of coai-se 

 sticks, then moss mixed with dust and decaying logs, and lastly fcnis ; 

 inside, grass, no feathers. The nest was open at Oie side." 



I subscciuently received a full clutch from Mr. H. R. Elvery. who 

 has been singularly successful in finding Pittas' ncst.s in the Big Scrub. 

 In November, 1897, he took a " record'' clutch of five eggs. 



From Mr. Hermann Lau's MS., regarding the Pitta, I take: — 

 ■' Dragoon Bird. During my stay at Bunya Mountains (South Queens- 

 laud), ninety miles north-east from Yandilla, I was in tlie habit of 

 imitating the short whistle of this bird to bring it within gimshot. On 

 one occasion my desired friend would not come to me, but kept a 

 respectable distance, so I approached it, sighted and despatched it. On 

 picking up the body, to my great dismay, I discovered pieces of egg 

 shell around the abdomen (the shot had been too severe). Looking 

 round I beheld, only a yard dist;int. a beautiful nest between large 

 stones mixed up with earth. Unfortunately there was no egg in it. 

 Tiie bird was evidently about to lay her first egg, which had been 

 smashed. On dissecting the body I found three more eggs witliout 

 shells. Tliis brought me to the conclusion tliat the Pitta lays four 

 eggs, roundish, in size like a Landrail's, in colour light-creamy with 

 middle-sized brown-red .spots. 



" The nest was shaped like a mortar, and made of fenis and moss. 

 Entrance at side. November, 1883. " 



Breeding months Jire probably November, December and .Tanuaiy. 



420. PiTT.\ STitr.PlTANS (sub-speciesl siMii.i.iM,\. Oould. 



LESSER PITTA. 



Jfeferrnre.—Vroc. Zool. Soc, p. ;() (iS68). 



I'renious Descriptions of E/jgs. — Ramsav : I'mc. Zool. Soc, p. i;oi 

 (1875); North: Austn. Miis. Cat.', pi. 11, fig. 8 (1880). 



Grngrnphirnl Dintrihutinn. — North Queensland ; also New Guinea 



Next. — Similar in description and situation to that of /'. xfrrpifnns. 



E(/(/s. — Clutch, three to four; round oval in sliape ; texture of shell 

 fine ; surface glossy ; colour, pcarly-whitc or wliite with a slight 



