OREOSCOPUS. 427 



A set of two taken on the 12th October following, from the nest here figured, measure : — Lengtli 

 (A) 0-91 X 0-65 inches; (B) 0-93 x 0-65 inches. An unusually coloured set, differing from any 

 eggs 1 had seen of Amy/is, are of a salmon-red ground colour, sparingly sprinkled over one 

 specimen, but numerous on the other, with dots and small irregular spots of a darker shade of 

 the ground colour, the latter having abroad clouded band of a still darker hue, shaded with 

 purple on the larger end, and tlie former a similar band around the smaller end of the shell ; 

 these eggs measure:— Length (A) 0-87 x 0-65 inches; (B) 0-87 x o-66 inches. Typical eggs 

 of Auiytis maiiHi'its resemble in colour and markings lightly marked eggs of Cinclovaniphus rufcsccns; 

 the last described set more resemble the eggs of Mdipliaga phyys,ia. 



The laying season, doubtless owing to the birds being systematically robbed, extended from 

 the 2gth August to the 24th October, 1909, inclusive. 



Oreoscopus gutturalis. 



FERN AVKEN. 

 Si'rkoruis (jutluralU, De Vis, Proc. Roy. Soc. QUI., Vol. VI., p. 244 (1889). 



Oivosoipihn ijiUturaUs, North, Agric. Gaz, N. S. Wales, Vol. XVI., pp. 247-2.50, and figs, iu pp. 

 248-249 (190.5). 



Adult male. — llmu'ml cuhmr ahove, includini/ tite n-i/n/s ami tail, warm olive-broirii, the foreliead 

 ami cronni of tin' head more of a ihiskii-broirn, especially at the aides ; lores, extreme base of forehead 

 and feathers arowid the eye dusky broimi ivith small ichitish tips ; a line of feathers on the upper 

 and posterior portion of the eye pale olire-broivn, irith irhitish centres, forming /cith the feathers 

 iinmediati'ly above the eye a narroiv but fairly /veil dejined superciliary stripe : ear-coverts dzisky 

 olive-brown, with narrow whitish shaft streaks: chin and upper throat white: on the lower 

 throat a black crescentic patch ; sides of neck aud all the under surface pale olive-brown, the centre of 

 the breast with a pronoiiiiced as/iy shade, the tips of the feathers on the lower flanks, the vent and 

 ■under tail-coverts wnshed ivith yelbj/c .• " bill black : iris brown'' (Day). 'J'otal lem/fh 5 inches, wing 

 2 5, tail 1-7, bill 0<;5, l<irsHs 0-S'i. 



Adult fkmale, — Similar in plnmaye to the male. 



Distribution. — North-eastern Queensland. 



MK. C. \V. De Vis, M.A., a former Director of the Queensland Museum, described the 

 type of this species in the " Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland," in 18S9, 

 under the name of Scricoruis giitturalis, from a single example procured by the late Mr. Kendal 

 Broadbent at Herberton ; later on he obtained a specimen on Belienden Ker, at an altitude 

 of Five thousand feet. Several specimens were also received about the same time by the Trustees 

 of the .Australian Museum, from Messrs. E. J. Cairn and Robt. Grant, who were collecting on 

 their behalf on the Belienden Ker Range. Subsequently specimens were also received from t!ie 

 late Mr. W. S. Day, obtained in the scrubs of the Russell River. 



Not quite adult birds are somewhat paler, and have the lower line of black feathers on the 

 lower throat margined with white. Wing 2-3 inches. 



Mr. Robt. Grant has handed me the following note: — " On the Belienden Ker Range, while 

 in company with Mr. E. J. Cairn, we found Oreoscopus guttnralis through parts of the scrubs and 

 on the table-lands. It is somewhat local, seeming to prefer damp places in the scrub, where, if 

 one stands quiet for a little while, one is almost sure to hear their low plaintive call, or scratching 

 amongst the debris and fallen leaves. It is an extremely quick and active little bird, especially 

 when searching for insects amongst ferns, lichens and mosses, or underneath the partially stripped 

 off bark of some fallen giant of the scrub. We did not succeed in discovering its nest." 



