12(5 Proceeding:^ of the Roynl Socieftj of Victoria. 



On anotliei- occasioi), Mi-. Lau took a pair of Channel-bill's 

 eggs, together with a ])air of the common magpie's 

 Gi/mno)'hlng tlhiceu), all fresh from the nest of the latter; 

 wliile the previous season he took a pair of young Channel- 

 bills from a Strepera's nest, and forwarded them to the 

 Queensland Museum. It would be interesting indeed to 

 learn if the same Channel-bill deposit two eggs in the foster 

 bird's nest, or were they laid b}' separate birds. 



3. LoPHOLAiM[Ts Antarticus, Shaw (Topknot Pigeon). 



Locality. — The coastal scrub generally from Cape York to 

 Gippsland Lakes. Occasional stragglers reach Tasmania. 

 This handsome bird is persistently omitted from the 

 Victorian list, notwithstanding it has been recorded from 

 Eastern Gippsland, and I possess a note of a flock having 

 appeared at Tyrell Creek, near Charlton, ISovember 1889. 



Observations. — T enjoyed am])le opportunity of ol)serving 

 these pigeons at home in the Richmond River scrub last 

 November, but was much too early for their breeding season. 

 It was delightful as the rising sun was gilding the tops of 

 the taller trees of the scrub to steal along the leafy avenues 

 to some favoured native Tamarind tree {Diploglottis), there 

 to watch the Topknot Pigeons, in company with the 

 gorgeously dressed Magnificent and Swainson's Fruit 

 Pigeons, ravishing the agreeable acrid bunches of fruit. 

 The flight of the Topknot Pigeon is rapid and powerful. At 

 times they eongiegate in large numbers, hence they are some- 

 times called "flock " pigeons by the dwellers of the scrub. 

 The egg I am jiermitted to describe is in the collection of 

 Mr. Le Souef It was taken from the nest at the end of 

 January 1887, by Mr. Herman Lau, Vandilla, Queensland. 

 Incubation was about a week old, therefore it is probable 

 that this species lays one egg only. 



Tlce Egg. — Is dull white, somewhat granulated. In shape, 

 inclined to oval, with peculiarly pointed extremities, 

 especially the smaller end which nips ofl' suddeidy. Length 

 4-5 cm. by a breadth of S'OO cm. 



The Nest. — The bird was shot, not knowing it flew from 

 the nest, which was immediateh- discovered about forty 

 feet from the ground on a thick branch of a Eucalypt, near 

 the outskirts of the Bunya Mountain scrub. Like those of the 

 majoritj' of pigeons, the nest was of the usual scanty nature 

 of coarse sticks, a few finer inside. 



