128 White. Dcscrip/ions of hvu Nciv Ncsls and Egi^s. [.sf'uci. 



resembling very much the eggs of the White-backed Swallow 

 [Cheranmca lencosicrniini). In another, taken on 9th August, 

 1918, one egg is quite a different shape from the others of the 

 same clutch, and marked all over with very minute specks of pale 

 reddish-brown, thus giving the clutch an odd appearance. In 

 fact, from the series of eggs it is hard to describe what are typical 

 markings. 



Eremiornis carteri. Desert-Bird. 



Search for the eggs of this bird has occupied a longer time- 

 probably, than that for any other Australian species. Three 

 unsuccessful seasons were spent by Mr. Whitlock in attempts to 

 locate the nest and eggs, and I determined upon one more hunt 

 before giving in. 



As the birds appeared to be more numerous on Barrow Island 

 (Dampier Group, W.A.) than on the mainland, I arranged for 

 Mr. Whitlock to spend some weeks at the spot, during July and 

 August. After a most anxious time (particulars of which shall 

 appear in a later issue of The Emu), he succeeded in securing a 

 pair of these long-sought-for eggs on the 20th August. Judging 

 from Mr. Whitlock's experience, eggs of /:. carteri will always be 

 extremely rare, but he has made the way for other collectors 

 much easier, as his notes will show. 



Nest. — The open, cup-shaped nest, substantially built of finely- 

 shredded grass or herbage, and lined with fine roots, was placed 

 in a bunch of spinifex (Triodia). Measurements — across, 5| inches, 

 by 2I inches deep over all ; egg cavity, 2\ inches by i;^ inches. 



Eggs. — Type clutch of two eggs ; oval in shape, [a] slightly 

 larger than {h) : surface of shell very fine and slightly glossy ; 

 ground colour pinkish-white, closely covered all over, and par- 

 ticularly at the larger ends, with minute markings of pale lilac 

 and purplish brown, and from light to dark reddish-brown. In 

 (a) the zone or ring of markings on the larger end is more pronounced 

 than in {h). 



Dimensions in inches : — [a] .70 x .48, {b) .O7 x .48. 



The eggs resemble miniature specimens of those of the Bristle- 

 Bird {Spheniira brachyptcru). 



Taken by Mr. F. Lawson Whitlock on Barrow Island, Damjner 

 Group, Western Australia, on iuth August, 1918. 



My friend, Mr. Bettington, of " Terragong," New South Wales, 



is sharing the expense and results of Mr. Whitlock's present 

 expedition. 



About Members. 



Messrs. C. H. A. Lienau, R.A.O.U., I'nley Park, South Aus- 

 tralia, and T. J. Ick-Hewins, M.B., B.S., Taranaki, New Zealand, 

 have been elected members of the A\icultural Society. 



