PACIIYCKPIIALA. 29 



The eggs are two or three in number for a sitting, varying from true to swollen ellipses in 

 form, and tapering somewhat sharply towards each end, the shell being close grained and smooth, 

 but dull and lustreless. Typically they are of a very faint creamy-bufF or bufify-white ground 

 colour, over which is sprinkled dots and small irregular shaped spots of umber and sepia inter- 

 mingled with underlying spots or small blotches of dull violet-grey which predominate on the 

 larger end. ( Jn some specimens the markings are in a cluster, or in lines, others have a few short 

 darker hair lines or streaks. A set of two taken by Dr. L. Holden at Circular Head, North-west 

 coast of Tasmania, on the 20th October, 1886, measures:— Length (A) 0-96 x o-68 inches; 

 (B) 0-93 X 072 inches. A set of three taken near Launceston, measure:— Length (A) 0-98 x o-68 

 inches; (B) 0-97 x o-68 inches ; (C) 0-97 x o-66 inches. Mr. E. D. Atkinson informs me that his 

 brother the Rev. H. D. Atkinson of Evandale, has taken the eggs of this species in October and 

 November from nests built in low scrub. 



Although this species is closely allied to Pachycephala occidentalis and F. guttiiralis of the 

 Australian continent it is remarkable that its eggs in shape most resemble those of Pachycephala 

 olivacea. Typically the eggs of both may be distinguished from those of any other species of 

 Pachycephala by their form. 



Pachycephala rufiventris. 



RUFOUS BREASTED THICKHEAD. 

 Sylvia rufiventris, Lath., Lid. Orn. SuppL, p. liv. (1801). 

 Pachycepliala peetoralis, Gould, Btls. Austr , fol. Vol. IL, pi. 07 (18-1:8). 



Pachycephala rufiventris, Gould, Ilandbk, Bds. Austr., Vol. I., p. 212 (186.5); Gadow, Cat. Bds. 

 Brit. Mus., Vol. Vlir., p. 208 (1883); Sharpe, Hand-1. Bds., Vol. IV., p. 308 (1903). 

 Adult >i\-lv.— General colour abore grey, sliyhlly paler on the rump and upper tail-coverts; 

 upper icing-coverts and quills blackish-broivn externally margined with grey; tail feathers blackish- 

 brown externally edged and tipped with grey; head grey, with indistinct dark brown centres to the 

 feathers; lores, feathers above and below the eye and the ear-coverts black; chin, cheeks and throat 

 white, followed by a crescentic black band on the fore-neck which unites at the sides with the black ear- 

 coverts; sides of the neck pale grey, remainder of the under surface and under tail-coverts light rufous- 

 brown; bill black; legs and feel dark slate-colour; iris black. Total length in the flesh 675 inches, 

 wing 3-75, tail 2-9, bill Oo, tarsus 0S2. 



Adult Female— C'eneraZ colour above brotvnisli-grey; lower back, rump and upper tail-coverts 

 grey; quills and tail feathers brown externally margined with dull grey; lores broivnish- white; ear- 

 coverts brown; chin, cheeks and throat dull zvhite, streaked with blackish-brown; remainder of the 

 under surface buf, passing into a rich buff on the under tail-coverts; all the feathers on the breast and 

 sides of the abdomen distinctly streaked with blackish-brown; bill broivn; iris black; legs slate colour 

 the feet slightly darker. 



Distribtition.— Queensland, New South Wales, Mctoria, South Australia, Central Australia, 

 Western Australia. 



"V^y ITH the e.xception of the northern and north-western portions of the continent, the 

 M. 3L Rufous-breasted Thickhead is found in favorable situations all over Australia. It 

 chiefly frequents open forest lands and lightly timbered scrubs, and is also a close attendant 

 on the haunts of man. 



To a large extent its food consists of various kinds of insects and their larva?, sometimes 

 alternated, according to the season, with small wild fruits and berries. While depending partially 

 for its subsistence on a frugivorous diet, it never attacks cultivated fruits although it freely enters 



