I082 NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Obstrvations. — During a recent trip to Adelaide, when looking ovei 

 the collection of my venerable friend, Mr. William White, the pair of eggs 

 (above described), dated 29th September, 1863, attiucted my attention. 

 As they are now the type eggs, as far as I am aware, their historj' 

 given to me by their discoverer, may be interesting. Mr. White was 

 in the company of Mj-. J. Taylor, of Pudnookna Station, River Murray, 

 South Australia, and, when stock-hunting to the north-east of the station, 

 flushed a splendid Scarlet-che.sted Grass Pairakeet from a hole in a 

 malloo-tree. Mr. White being desirous of securing one of the parents as 

 well as the eggs, he left, and returned again when the bird was sitting. 

 Bmding his handkerchief to the end of a long stick, he placed it over the 

 hole. Then his companion held the stick while he ascended the smooth 

 tree by the aid of a notched stick placed against it, and secured the bird 

 (a female) and two eggs. There were four eggs in the nesting hole, but 

 unfortunately two were broken while Mr. White was awkwardly clinging 

 to the smooth stem taking them. The bird lived in Mr. White's aviary 

 for several years, but was always solitary and shy. Mr. White says this 

 was also his experience of the bird in the bush. They were seen singly 

 or in pairs in the most scrubby localities, often far from water. Like 

 the rest of the family, the male has a vei-y feeble, rippling call. 



The " Geographical Distribution ' of the following species may be 

 extended, namely : — 



4. — White Goshawk, North-west Australia (R. Hall). 



70. — Little Slu'ike Thrush, North-west Australia (Gould). 



73. — Ground Cuckoo Shrike. North-west Australia (R. Hall). 

 267. — Brown Thickhead, North-west Australia (Gould). 

 276. — W^hite-browed Tree Creeper, Victoria (A. C. Smart). 

 SOL — Black-chinned Honeyeater, North-west Australia (R. Hall). 

 315. — Painted Honeyeater, Queensland (Gould). 



385.— Masked Wood Swallow. North Queensland (Dr. Macgiliivi-ay). 

 395. — Painted Finch, North Queensland (Dr. Macgillivray). 

 400. — Yellow-rumped Finch, North-west Australia (Gould). 



ADDITIONAL BREEDING SEASONS. 



162. — Spotted Bower Bird — January and February, Cloucurry 



district, Queensland (Dr. Macgillivray). 

 262. — Northern Thickhead — October to February. 

 366.— Little Friar Bird— October to May. 



Note. — With regard to the young of (IcDphdim ncripfa (550) not 

 being able to fly until the usual age for Pigeons, I should have given 

 a foot-note reference for remarks (which I did not see until after I liad 

 written my own) by Dr. Sclater, on some of these birds halched at the 

 Zoological Gardens, London. Vnli , I'.Z.S , 1892, pp. 76-7. 



