36 Whitk, Descriptions of Nests and Eggs New to Science, [.^f^uiy 



Mytisa (Amytornis) striata oweni. Mathews. Striated Grass- 

 Wren . 



Nest. — Is of the domed type and globular in shape, outwardly 

 constructed of dried spinifex (Triodia) stems, and fine grasses. 

 The interior very neatly hned with buff-coloured vegetable down, 

 but the cavity containing the eggs is small in comparison with 

 the bulk of the nest. It was difficult to tell the top from the 

 bottom of the nest when it was removed from the growth of 

 spinifex. 



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

 smooth, and slightly glossy ; ground colour white, with the very 

 faintest tinge of pinkish-buff, finely spotted and speckled all over, 

 but particularly at the larger end, where a well-marked zone is 

 foi-med, with pale reddish-brown, umber, and dull slate, the latter 

 appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell. The markings 

 are so small that it is necessary to use a magnifying-glass in order 

 to determine the correct colours. 



Measurements in inches: — (a) .79 x .59, [b) .77 x .57, (r) .80 x .58. 



Locality. — Taken for me by Mr. F. Lawson Whitlock at 

 Spinifex Plain, Borewell, East Murchison, Western Australia, on 

 12th September, 1909. 



Aphelocephala castaneiventris whitei. ^Mathews. Chestnut-l)ellied 

 Whiteface. 



Nest. — Composed of grass and twigs, lined with animal fur, 

 and placed in a hollow mulga. 



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

 fine, smooth, and glossy ; ground colour pale buffy-white, well 

 spotted all over, but particularly at the larger end, where a well- 

 defined zone is formed, with light and dark umber markings, inter- 

 mingled with those of dull purplish-grey, the latter appearing as 

 if beneath the surface of the shell. 



Measurements in inches : — {a) .by x .5, [b) .by x .5, (c) .65 x .51. 



Locality. — Taken by Capt. S. A. W'hite at the Everard Ranges, 

 Central Austraha, on 8th August, 1914. 



Descriptions of Nests and Eggs of Monarcha canescens 

 and Neochmia phaeton albiventer. 



By Dr. W. Macgillivray, Vice-President R.A.O.U., Broken 



Hill. 

 Monarcha canescens (Salvadori), Monarcha melanopsis canescens of 

 Mathews' 1913 " List of the Birds of Australia," is a rare bird at 

 Cape York, but quite common in the scrubs and open forest 

 country at the back of Lloyd's Bay. It nests in the scrubs, where 

 Mr. \V. M'Lennan was fortunate in finding the first nest on the 

 nth January, 1915. The nest was about 20 feet from the ground 

 in a fig-tree growing in scrub on the Claudie River. 



