153 Le Souef, Birds -eggs from Northern Australia. [isfj^n. 



beino^ often found on one tree. The clutch consists of four 

 delicately coloured bluish-green eggs. The shell is slightly 

 glossy and pitted. They measure — (i) 2.17 x 1.50 ; (2) 2.09 

 X 1.49; (3) 2.05 X 1.45 ; (4) 2.09 X 1.48 inches. January. 



DUPETOR GOULDI (Black Mangrove-Bittern). 



Cat. B. Brit. Mus., vol. xxvi., p. 249 ; Gould's Handbook, vol. ii., p. 

 315, sp. 559. 



Many of the flat stick nests of these birds were found among 

 the mangroves growing on the banks of the tidal rivers, but 

 none of the nests contained more than three eggs, although 

 frequently four, or even five, are laid. They were found in 

 January and February. The eggs are white, and measure — A, 

 (i) 1.57 X 1.26, (2) 1.74 X 1.27,(3) 1.63 X 1.28; B, (i) 1.76 X 

 1.32, (2) 1.78 X 1.33 inches. 



Phalacrocorax sulcirostris (Little Black Cormorant). 



Cat. B. Brit. Mus., vol. xxvi., p. 376 ; Gould's Handbook, vol. ii., 

 p. 495, sp. 656. 



These birds generally build in company, and frequently 

 with the Little Cormorant {P. melanoleucus). Their somewhat 

 bulky stick nests are frequently placed in comparatively 

 low trees, growing in or near swamps, although occasionally 

 they are over 60 feet from the ground ; and I have seen as 

 many as ten in one small tree. Several nests were found, 

 all in May and June, and some contained four eggs, 

 otliers three. The eggs are greenish-white, coated with lime 

 somewhat irregularly, and measure — (i) 1.96 x 1.28; (2) 2.0 x 

 1.32; (5) 1.88 X 1.27; (4) 1.92 X 1.28 inches. 

 Phal.\CROCORAX melanoleucus (Little Cormorant). 



Cat. B. Brit. Mus., vol. xxvi., p. 398 ; Gould's Handbook, vol. ii., 

 p. 493, sp. 655. 



Many of the nests of this species were found, all in May. The 

 birds were breeding in company with the former species, and 

 their nests are identical, as are practically the eggs, which are 

 greenish-white, irregularly coated with lime. They measure — - 

 (i) 1.85 X 1. 21 ; (2) 1.84 X 1.24; (3) 1.82 X 1.22 ; (4) 1.78 X 1.21 

 inches. The large majority of the nests contained four eggs, and 

 only one five. 

 Plotus nov^-hollandi^ (Darter). 



Cat. B. Brit. Mus., vol. xxvi., p. 417 ; Gould's Handbook, vol. ii., 

 p. 496, sp. 657. 



These handsome birds construct their stick nests either over 

 water or close to it. Eight of them were found with fresh eggs 

 in May and June. The eggs are white, and covered irregularly 

 with a limy coating, the shell underneath being greenish-white, 

 and they measure — (i) 2.22 x 1.50; (2) 2.32 x 1.44; (3) 2.23 x 

 1.50; (4) 2.19 X 1.47 inches. The nests contained either three 

 pr four eggs each. 



