458 ;Mr. D. Le Souef on some new or 



small flocks. The white rump is very conspicuous in flight. 

 Note like that of the Lesser Tern. 



Adu/t (Senna, July 25, 1898). Iris blue; eyelids coral- 

 red ; bill black, coral-red at base ; legs and feet dark brown. 



258. Glareola emini Shelley. 



This species, which is represented in the British Museum 

 by the type obtained by Emin Pasha at Foda in Equatorial 

 Africa, is distributed in small colonies along the river above 

 Tete. Small islands of sand interspersed with rock are 

 favourite resorts. On the smooth portions of the rocks these 

 graceful little birds were to be observed throughout the day 

 in squatting positions basking in the heat of the sun. They 

 evince little fear, and if driven from their retreat they fly 

 away for a short distance, to return again and alight on the 

 rocks, like so many Swallows, uttering all the time a series 

 of faint notes, which might be described by the syllables 

 "kip-kip,'^ rapidly repeated. During a shower of rain these 

 birds would congregate into small flocks and fly to and fro 

 above the water, making a great noise, and all the time busy 

 catching insects. In flight the white of the upper tail- 

 coverts is very conspicuous. 



Adult (Mesanangue, Aug. 27, 1898). Iris brown; front 

 portion of bill black, basal portion and gape coral-red; legs 

 and feet coral-red. 



Four specimens obtained, the last at Zumbo, Nov. 9, 1898. 



XXV. — Descriptions of some neiv or rare Eggs of Australian 

 Birds. By D. Le Souiir, of Melbourne, C.M.Z.S. 



1. MicR(ECA ASsiMiLis Gould. (Lcsscr Browu Flycatchcr.) 

 This interesting little bird is found in the western portion 

 of Australia from north to south, but it is nowhere very 

 plentiful. It has a sweet note and is far from being shy. 

 I noticed it on two occasions near York, in Western Australia. 

 Its small compact nest was found near Katanning, Western 

 Australia, during the latter part of October. It was situated 

 on a fork near the end of a horizontal branch, and measured 



