Vol. III. 

 1903 



Le SoUEF, Birds' -eggs from Northern Australia. 55 



Rhipidura dryas (Wood Fantail). 



Gould, sp. 137 ; Cat. B. Brit. Mus., vol. iv., p. 322. 



The eggs and nest of this beautiful Fantail are very similar 

 to those of its near ally, the Rufous Fantail (R. rufifrons). The 

 nest was found on 18th November, situated on a thin fork near 

 the end of a branch and about 10 feet from the ground ; it was 

 composed of fine shreds of bark and lined with fine 'grass seed- 

 stalks and lightly covered outwardly with cobwebs, and measures 

 — internal depth, 1 inch ; external, \\ inches ; internal breadth, 

 1 \ inches ; external, 2 inches. The nest contained two fresh 

 eggs, which are light buff in colour and marked on the larger 

 end only, where the small reddish-brown and greyish markings 

 form a confluent zone. The eggs measure — (1) .66 x .48 inch ; 

 (2) .67 x .49 inch. 



PTILOSCLERA VERSICOLOR (Red-crowned Lorikeet"). 



Gould, sp. 447 ; Cat. B. Brit. Mus., vol. xx., p. 66. 



This Lorikeet is found in Northern Australia, and they generally 

 live in flocks, except when nesting. They lay their eggs in a 

 hollow limb, generally at a considerable distance from the ground, 

 and the rotten wood on which the eggs are laid usually soon 

 discolours them. The eggs are white, without gloss, and one 

 taken on 27th January measures .98 x .78 inch. The clutch 

 is either one or two eggs. 



Platycercus amathusia (Blue-cheeked Parrakeet). 



Gould, sp. 420 ; Cat. B. Brit. Mus., vol. xx., p. 548. 



This bird ranges over Northern Australia, and is very similar 

 to the Pale-headed Parrakeet (P. pallidiceps). It was nesting 

 in the Port Darwin district in July, two clutches of eggs being 

 taken, one on the 10th and the other on the 14th of that month. 

 They are pure white and glossy, and measure — A, (1) .99 x .79, 

 (2) 1 x .78 ; B, (1) 1. 01 x .78, (2) 1 x .80. The two nests each 

 had two fresh eggs in, evidently uncompleted clutches. 



Stray Feathers. 



Late Clutches of Larks. — On 8th February I noticed a nest 

 of the Black-breasted Song-Lark (Cinclorham phus cruralis) con- 

 taining four eggs. On the 14th of same month I saw another 

 nest containing five eggs — a record clutch, I think, for this 

 species. On 26th I found a nest of the Bush-Lark (Mirafra 

 horsfieldi) with three eggs on the point of hatching. — Fred. L. 

 Berney. Richmond (N.Q.), 4/3/03. 

 * * * 



Nude Cockatoos. — I have a tame white Cockatoo (Sulphur- 

 crested) which is a bit of a puzzle. He most persistently refuses 

 to grow feathers. Eighteen months ago I took him from the nest 



