6i4 



NESTS AND EGGS OV AVSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Observations. — Previously I had got somewhat astray about the 

 distributiou and the eggs of this interesting Cockatoo. I now believe 

 the birds mentioned by me in the " Proceedings of the Royal Society " 

 (1890) were i-eferable to the Western Loug-billed species (Licmetis 

 pastinatorj. Duiing my visit to Western Australia I examined one 

 or two caged birds which had not the lengthened upper mandible, 

 therefore, without further proof, I mistook the birds for the 

 Bare-eyed species. However, I believe it is a fact that some of the 

 Western Long-billed birds in their native state possess shortened or 

 rounded upper mandibles, caused by continual use in procuring certain 

 kinds of food. 



The Bare-eyed Cockatoo takes its name from the bluish patch uf 

 naked skin round the eye, which place is wliilish in the Blood-stained 

 Cockatoo, and it is the larger bird of the two. I inadvertently trans- 

 posed the colours when describing some eggs before the Field Naturalists' 

 Club of Victoria, last year. Although I have given a somewliat general 

 chstribution for the Bare-eyed Cockatoo, the only actual place I know 

 where it exists is the region of the Barrier Range, on the borders of 

 New South Wales and South Austraha. But accorcUng to Dr. Shai-pe 

 it was the species found by Captain Sturt, the explorer, in immense 

 flocks at Depot Creek, Central Australia. 



483. — Cacatua sanguinea, Gould. — (393) 

 BLOOD-STAINED COCKATOO. 



figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. v., pi. 3. 



Reference. — C;it. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xx., p. liS. 



Previous Descriplioii of Ei;gs. — Campbell : Victorian Naturalist 



GeiKjraphical Dialrihution. — Northern Teriilory, Queensland, New 

 South Wales, South, West (?), and North-west Australia. 



NeM. — In a hole in a tree; sometimes in timber standing in a lagoon 

 or swamp. 



Egyx. — Clutch, three to four; oval inclined or roundish in shape; 

 texture of shell somewhat coarse ; surface glossy, in some examples 

 rough, with limy nodules; colour, white. Dimensions in inches of a 

 clutch from Cooper's Creek (South Australia): (1) 1-44 x 1 -OS, 

 (2) 1-4 X 1-07, (3) 1-33 X -98; of a pair from the Gulf of Ctirpentaria 

 district : 1-6 X M 4, (2) 1-45 X 1-09. 



Oliacrvdiiiiiix. — Tlie Blood-stained Cockatoo is a dweller of the 

 interior, especially tlic great norlliern plains, where in some favourite 

 localities it may be seen in thoiisanils in a flock. This interesting little 

 bird is also gregarious throughout the breeding season. 



