212 Proceedings of tJic Royal Society of Victoria. 



Descriptions of Eggs. 



Black-backed Magpie ( G. tibicen). — Eggs, although varying in 

 shape, are chiefly of a lengthened form ; the texture of the shell 

 is somewhat fine but lustreless. There are many different 

 characteristics of coloui'ing. Three types may be singled out for 

 description : (a) Ground colour bluish or French grey, beautifully 

 marbled nearly over the whole surface with streaks, dashes and 

 smudges of pinkish- or brownish-red. In some instances the mark- 

 ings form a confluent patch about the apex, (h) Other specimens 

 are more greenish in ground colour, and are clouded or blotched 

 with drab, (c) Another set has a greenish ground colour but 

 instead of reddish streaks is moderately marked with large 

 roundish spots and blotches of umber and dull slate, most of the 

 blotches having penumbra-like edges. Faint traces of hair-like 

 lines also appear upon the surface of the shell. A full clutch 

 taken in Riverina measures, in centimetres : (1) 3'65 x 2'65 ; (2) 

 :V7 X 2-69 ; (3) 3-72 x 2-G8 ; (4) 3-05 x 2-76 ; (5) 3-67 x 2-72. 

 Another set, I took in Queensland, gives : (1) 3-78 x 2-82 ; (2) 

 3-9 X 2-8; (3) 3-81 x 2-78. 



White-backed Magjjie ( G. leiiconota) — Three types of eggs may 

 be again selected as the most common, all somewhat lengthened 

 and elegant in form, (a) Ground colour light or pale green, 

 almost hidden with streaky and cloudy markings of pinkish-red. 

 (b) In others the markings are drab or brown, (c) These 

 examples have a plain grey (sometimes greenish) ground colour, 

 ;ind, like the type "<;" in G. tibicen are moderately, almost 

 sparingly, marked with roundish spots and blotches of umber and 

 dull slate. I possess exceptional examples of a beautiful bluish- 

 green colour devoid of markings save a few indistinct freckles of 

 chestnut. Dimensions, in centimetres, of a clutch of type "/^''. 

 (1) 4-02 X 2-72; (2) 4-0 x 2-65; (3) 3-88 x 2-75. A clutch in 

 type 'V": (1) 3-97 x 2-86 ; (2) 3-96 x 2-81 ; (.3) 3-97 x 2-8. 



Lesser White-backed Magpie {G. hyperleuca). — Eggs lengthened 

 in form, light greenish ground colour mottled and marked all 

 over with umber. Another class of specimens which, however, is 

 not so conmion, is rounder in form and more of a distinct greenish 

 colour, moderately marked as in type "r" of the proceeding 

 species, with roundish blotches of umber. Interspersed are also 



