XV 



<0'5 



1 MACr,iLM\-R AV, Desert f^/io]if; nf Nes/s and Ef^^s. 37 



The eggs are three in number, hUmt ovals in shape, shell smooth 

 with slight lustre, creamy white in colour, dotted all over witli 

 small reddish-brown irregularly-shaped spots, with a few under- 

 lying pale purjilish ones. The spots are sparingly distributed 

 towards the small ci\(.\, but form a distinct zone at the larger. 

 The eggs measure in millimetres : — [a) axis 23 .\ diameter 17, 

 {h) axis 23 X diameter 16, (c) axis 24 x diameter 18. 



The nest is a beautiful, comimctly built, goblet-shaped structure, 

 placed in an upright fork of a small scrub tree. It is com)M)sed of 

 fine strips and flakes of paper bark, bound together by cobwebs. 

 In one nest examined many flocculent masses of cobweb adhered 

 to the exterior : another was only sparingly 1)ound round with 

 cobweb. The lining is of vegetable hair. External diameter at 

 brim, 70 mm. ; from brim to bottom. 120 mm. ; internal depth, 

 50 mm. 



Neochmia phaeton albiventer (Mathews. 5o?///i Australian Ormthol- 

 oght. April, 1014). 



The eggs of this bird, four in number, were taken by Mr. W. 

 M'Lennan at the Archer Creek, on the western side of the Cape 

 York Peninsula, on 21st April, 1915. They are pure white, oval 

 in shape, with a slightly glossy shell. Measurements : — (i) 15 mm. 

 X 12 mm., (2) 15 mm. x 12 mm., (3) 14.5 mm. x 11. 5 mm., 

 (4) 14 mm. X II mm. 



The nest is a spherical structure, composed of the stems, blades, 

 and seeding heads of some coarse grass, with a little fur of some 

 animal, the internal lining consisting of a few feathers, some fur, 

 and a portion of the cast skin of a snake. The external diameter 

 is 140 mm. 



Observations around Anglesea, Victoria. 



By Herbert A. Purnell, R.A.O.U. 



In company with Mr. Frank Howe, C.M.Z.S., of the Bird 

 Observers' Club, early on the morning of 2nd April, 1915, I started 

 for a favourite hunting-ground around Anglesea. During our 

 trip 76 different species of birds were actually observed. This, I 

 think, is a good record for so short a trip, and especially in an 

 " off " season. On previous occasions, and in the nesting season, I 

 have never recorded many more than 60 birds in a week-end 

 outing. 



Geelong district, as stated by Mr. C. F. Belcher, in " The Birds 

 of the District of Geelong," has about 244 species, so resident 

 naturalists have one of the best fields for ornithological observa- 

 tions. The Connewarre Lakes, ocean beaches, open plains, 

 lightly-timbered country, and Otway forests form the home of 

 many forms of bird life. 



Our drive through the open country around Waurn Ponds 

 revealed nothing beyond the usual forms noted on any country 



