I 24 Le SouEF, Birds -eggs from Nnrfhern Austral ia. ' ist j'""- 



a fairly large structure, often being lined with leaves. A single 

 white egg is deposited, the smaller end of which is occasionally 

 pointed. The eggs n:ieasure — A, 1.72 x 1.22; B, 1.68 x 1.19; 

 C, 1.69 X 1. 1 8 inches. The three eggs measured were found in 

 December and January, in nests situated in the mangroves, by a 

 tidal river, near Port Darwin. November is the month in which 

 these birds commence nesting in Queensland. 



Geopelia HUMERALIS (Barred-shouldered Dove). 



Cat. B. Brit. Mus., vol. xxi., p. 455 ; Gould's Handbook, vol. ii., 

 p. 142, sp. 471. 



These birds have a wide range over Northern Australia, and, 

 if protected, will occasionally build their light stick nests in 

 shrubs of gardens near houses. The clutch of eggs is two ; they 

 are white, slightly glossy, and measure — A, (i) 1.06 x .78, (2) 

 1.08 X .80; B, (i) 1. 10 X .83, (2) 1. 10 X .80 inches. January. 



Geopelia tranquilla (Ground Dove). 



Cat. B. Brit. Mus., vol. xxi., p. 456 ; Gould's Handbook, vol. ii., 

 pp. 144, 145, sp. 472 and 473. 



These delicately coloured birds range over all Australia. 

 Their small, fragile nests are sometimes built of fine twigs, 

 sometimes of grass, and are usually situated in a low bush, but 

 occasionally on the rough bark of a horizontal bough of a 

 eucalyptus tree. The clutch is two, and the eggs are white and 

 slightly glossy. One clutch measures — (i) .96 x .73 ; (2) .96 x 

 ,72 inch. Dates also all in January. 



Geopelia cuneata (Little Dove). 



Cat. B. Brit. Mus., vol. xxi., p. 462 ; Gould's Handbook, vol. ii., 

 p. 146, sp. 474. 



The nest of this dear little bird is a very fragile structure, and 

 one often wonders how the eggs remain on when the parents 

 leave and alight on it. Several sets are in the collection, all 

 taken in January. The clutch is two, the eggs white, with very 

 little gloss, and they measure — A, (i) .81 x .6^, (2) .82 x .61 ; 

 B, (i) .80 X .62, (2) .79 X .61 inch. 

 Histriophaps histrionica (Flock Pigeon). 



Cat. B. Brit. Mus., vol. xxi., p. 529 ; Gould's Handbook, vol. ii., 

 p. 127, sp. 464. 



Only one egg of this bird was sent, found on 14th November, 

 on the bare ground, alongside a tussock of grass. It is white, 

 slightly glossy, and measures 1.36 x i.oi inches. 



LOPHOPHAPS LEUCOGASTER (White-bellied Plumed-Pigeon). 

 Cat. B. Brit. Mus., vol. xxi., p. 535. 

 A single Qgg of this bird was found on the ground by a 

 tussock of grass, in a very shallow depression, on 2nd January. 

 It is creamy-white in colour, nearly oval in shape, and measures 

 1.06 X .86 inches. 



