152 Le Souef, Birds' -eggs from Northern Australia. \i^"]tn 



hollow in a tree, and on the floor of the nest were a few fish 

 bones, &c., lying about. The eggs are rounded, pure white, and 

 slightly glossy, and measure— (i) i.oi x .85 ; (2) .97 x .87; (3) 

 .94 X M; (4) .92 X .87; (5) I.OI X .84 inches. Dates, 2nd 

 October and 3rd December. 



Halcyon sanctu.s (Sacred Kingfisher). 



Cat. B. Brit. Mus., vol. xvii., p. 267 ; Gould's Handbook, vol. i., p. 

 128, sp. 63. 



Two clutches of the eggs of this bird were found in burrows 

 drilled in termites' earthen nests, situated on forks of eucalyptus 

 trees, on 17th December and 25th January. One contained five 

 and the other three eggs. They are white, rounded, and slightly 

 glossy, and measure — (i) .98 x .82 ; (2) .98 x .86; (3) .99 x .85 ; 

 (4) i.o x .82, (5) .98 X .80 inch. 



Centropus phasianus (Coucal). 



Cat. B. Brit. Mus., vol. xix., p. 340 ; Gould's Handbook, vol. !., p. 

 634, sp. 388-390, 



This curious Cuckoo has a wide range over Northern Aus- 

 tralia, and is plentiful in suitable localities, and from its habit of 

 generally making its nest in a tussock of grass its eggs are 

 easily found. Several clutches are in the collection, mostly 

 found in nests placed in the grass, and with that vegetation 

 drawn together and so forming a covering over the nest ; but 

 two clutches were laid in shallow, open stick nests in a pandanus 

 palm, about 8 feet from the ground. The eggs are 

 creamy-white, and slightly glossy, and the general clutch is 

 four. A typical set measures — (1)1.53 x 1.8 ; (2) 1.47 x 1.6; (3) 

 1.52 x 1. 10 ; (4) 1.5 1 x 1.9 inches. The dates were in December, 

 January, and February. 



Calyptorhynchus MACRORYNCHUS (Great-billed Cockatoo). 



Cat. B. Brit. Mus., vol. xx., p. iio ; (Mould's Handbook, vol. ii, p. 15, 

 sp. 398. 



This bird breeds in the hollow branches of the eucalyptus 

 trees, in the neighbourhood of Port Darwin, generally in the 

 month of July. Apparently one egg is usually laid, but 

 occasionally two. They are elongated, white in colour, finely 

 pitted, and measure — A, 1.88 x 1.20; B, 1.90 x 1.20; C, 1.88 

 X 1.36 inches. 



Cacatua gymnopis (Bare-eyed Cockatoo). 



Cat. B. Brit. Mus., vol. xx., p. 127. 

 These birds often assemble in large flocks, and the trees on 

 which they congregate look white with them and exceedingly 

 picturesque. They nest in hollow spouts, generally laying from 

 two to three eggs, occasionally four. The eggs are white and 

 finely pitted, and measure — (i) 1.58 x 1. 24; (2) 1.64 x 1.22 ; (3) 

 1.60 X 1.20 inches. They were taken in June and July. 



