^°'iQif ^ '] White, Descriptions of Nests and Eeif^s New to Science. ^C 



Descriptions of Nests and Eggs New to Science. 

 Hv H. L. White, R.A.O.U., Belltrees, X.S.W. 

 Microeca brunneicauda. Campbell. Brown-tailed Flycatcher. 



iVc.s/. — Small, oi)en structure, composed of bark, the outside 

 being covered with small pieces of leaves and cobwebs, and gives 

 the following measurements : — Outside — breadth if inches, 

 depth ij^g- inches ; inside — breadth if'„ inches, depth f inch. 



Eggs. — One egg only, oval in shape ; surface of shell fine, smooth, 

 and sUghtly glossy, and under the lens minute pittings can be 

 noticed, and these are well distributed. Ground colour pale 

 bluish-grey, spotted all over, but particularly at the larger end, 

 where an irregular zone is formed, with chestnut and purple, 

 those of the latter colour mostly appearing as if beneath the 

 surface of the shell. 



Measurement in inches : — .77 x .54. 



Locality. — Taken for me by Mr. G. F. Hill at Napier Broome 

 Bay, North-West Australia, on 23rd October, 1909.* 



Many of the more recently created sub-species of birds show 

 such slight variation that one requires a strong glass, and an 

 imagination, to detect the differences ; others, again, from widely- 

 separated localities, are easily distinguished, while the eggs also 

 differ considerably. I consider that the following come under 

 the second category : — 



Acanthiza uropygialis condora, Mathews. Chestnut-rumped Tit- 

 Warbler. 



Nest. — Composed of bark, grass, and cobwebs, lined with 

 wallaby fur and feathers, and placed in a stump ii inches from the 

 ground. 



Eggs. — Clutch of three, pointed oval in shape, surface of shell 

 very fine and slightly glossy ; ground colour white, scattered over 

 the surface, but particularly at the larger end (especially so with 

 specimen c), with fine markings of pale reddish-brown and a few 

 of dull purplish-grey. 



Measurements in inches : — {a) .62 x .44, [b) .6j x .45, (c) .60 x .45. 



Locality. — Taken by Capt. S. A. White at Moorilyanna Water 

 Well. Central Australia, on 29th July. 1914. 



Cinclosoma castanonotum dundasi, Mathews. Chestnut-backed 

 Ground-Bird. 



Eggs. — Clutch of two, rather swollen oval in shape ; surface of 

 shell tine, smooth, and slightly glossy ; ground colour pale greyish- 

 white, finely spotted all over, but particularly at the larger end, 

 where a cap is formed, with umber and dull slate, the latter 

 appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell. Specimen a is 

 much more heavily marked than specimen b. 



Measurements in inches : — (a) 1.17 x .85, [b) i.ii x .83. 



Locality. — Taken by Capt. S. A. White at tfie Officer River, 

 near the Everard Ranges, Central Australia, on 6th August, 1914. 



* Vide EuiH, vol. x., pp. 169 and 273. 



