88 Le Souef, Bii'ds' -eggs from No7-ther)j Australia. fisfoct 



found are — 8th, 9th, 30tli December and loth January; and the 

 eggs measure — A, (i) 1.30 x .86, (2) 1.28 x .87 ; B, (i) 1.25 x .90, 



(2) 1.27 X .88 ; C, (i) 1.24 X .83, (2) 1.22 X .80; D, 1.26 x .84 

 inches. 



Chibia bracteata (Drongo). 



Cat. B. Brit. Mus., vol. iii,, p. 236. 

 These birds build an open nest of Hght-coloured rootlets, with 

 lining of finer material. They lay from three to four eggs, 

 which are of a pinkish white, with fine brown markings of 

 various shades. Some are thickly freckled ; others, again, have 

 comparatively few markings. The spots under the surface are 

 lilac. The dates on which four clutches were found are — 28th 

 November; ist, 9th, and lOth December. The eggs measure — 

 A, (i) 1. 18 X .84, (2) 1. 21 X .80; B, (i) 1. 15 X .80, (2) i.i6 X .84, 



(3) I.I I X .80; C, (i) 1.3 X .78, (2) I.I I X .81, (3) 1.04 X .70; D, 

 (i) 1,13 X .80, (2) 1. 14 X .80, (3) 1. 10 X .'j'^ inches. 



Grallina picata (Magpie Lark). 



Cat. B. Brit. Mus., vol. iii., p. 272. 

 These graceful birds are very plentiful in Northern Australia 

 in suitable localities. The eggs vary much in colour, from a 

 creamy white to pink ; the markings also vary from brown 

 to reddish-brown. They are more plentiful on the larger end, 

 the spots below the surface being dark purple. The birds lay 

 in October, November, and December, and the eggs measure — 



A, (i) 1.14 X .84, (2) 1. 10 X .81, (3) 1. 10 X .84, (4) 1.15.X .84; 



B, (i) 1.02 X .78, (2) 1.04 X .80, (3) 1.04 X .78, (4) 1.08 X .86, (5) 

 1.05 X .78 inches. 



COLLYRIOCINCLA BRUNNEA (Brown Shrike-Thrush). 

 Cat. B. Brit. Mus., vol. iii., p. 291. 

 The Brown Shrike-Thrush is found more or less in all the 

 northern parts of Australia. It builds an open nest, composed 

 generally of fibres of bark or rootlets, and lined with fine tendrils 

 or grass. The eggs are white, and some have bold markings of 

 dark brown scattered over the surface, jvith lilac markings 

 beneath ; others again are more finely freckled, with light brown 

 spots and light grey markings beneath the surface. There are 

 gradations between. Two nests were found, on i8th October 

 and 2nd December. The eggs measure— A, (i) 1.18 x .73, 

 (2) 1.20 X. 74, (3) 1.20 X .74; B, (i) 1.02 X .J^, (2) 1,03 x .77, (3) 

 1.04 X ."/G inches. The eggs of the first clutch are abnormally long. 



PiNAROLESTES PARVULUS (Little Shrike-Thrush). 

 Cat. B. Brit. Mus., vol. iii., p. 296. 

 These birds are very plentiful in the Port Darwin district, 

 being found mostly in the scrubby country. Their nests are 

 strongly built, frequently of strips of melaleuca bark, but 

 occasionally of coarse grass, the lining being generally small 



