and Eggs from New Guinea. 615 



6 inches, internal 4. There were three fresh eggs iu the 

 nest, which probably constitutes the full clutch. They have 

 a light cream ground-colour, plentifully marked with elon- 

 gated reddish brown blotches, some overlaying others and 

 of varying density, but more plentiful on the larger end ; 

 the markings under the surface are light purple. They 

 measure: A 1 27x090, B l-30x0-91, C ISSxOS? inch. 



CtRAUCALUS papuexsis. 



This bird is very similar to G. mentalis, especially in 

 certain phases of its plumage. Mr. Barnard saw a few at 

 Sariba Island, and generally noticed them singly. He found 

 a nest coiitaii:ing one young bird, built on a tree which 

 overhung the water at high tide. Another nest was found on 

 October 30th, 1899, with one fresh e^g; it was built in a 

 fork of a breadfruit-tree, about 30 yards from a native village 

 and in open country. The bird flew right away as soon as 

 the nest was approached ; it was an open shallow structure 

 and difficult to distinguish from any distance ; it is composed 

 of vine-tendrils and fine twigs and covered with cobwebs, on 

 which are fastened pieces of lichen ; it measures — external 

 diameter 3 inches, internal 2; external depth H inch, in- 

 ternal ^. The single egg is somewhat similar to that of 

 G. lineutus, but very different from those of the other 

 members of the family. Its ground-colour is a delicate pale 

 green, with dark brown markings, mostly on the larger end, 

 where they form an irregular zone ; the markings under the 

 surface are grey. It measures 1*20 x 0*80 inch. 



Ptilotis gracilis, 



Mr. Barnard secured a specimen of this bird on Sariba 

 Island, which is interesting, for, so far as I know, it has 

 been recorded only from N.E. Australia. The birds were 

 far from shy, remaining on their nests until the intruder 

 was right alongside. Two nests were found, both containing 

 two eggs. They were built of frayed grass, broken leaves, 

 and cobwebs, and lined inside with the white down from the 

 seed-pod of the nati\e cotton-tree. They were suspended 



