200 Hall, Colour Reversion in Kingfishers Eggs. [isfApnl 



later a second clutch was laid, of a fainter brown. These also 

 were extracted. A third clutch was laid, with a much fainter 

 layer of pigment upon them. 



The Kingfishers referred to are Dacelo gigas, Halcyon sanctus, 

 and H. macleayi. Of D. gigcis, the eggs were placed in the open 

 space of a spout, fully exposed to light. Two clutches, each 

 three, were taken, and both showed brownish-grey markings upon 

 them. Locality, Box Hill, Victoria Of H. sanctus^ five eggs 

 formed the sitting, and they were placed in the darkness of a 

 tree hollow. Locality, Clayton, Victoria. (Collected per Mr. F. 

 W. Munt.*) Of H. macleayi, three constituted the sitting. All 

 were spotted upon the sides rather than upon the ends. 

 Locality, Richmond River District, New South Wales. 



In D. gigas and H. i/iaclcayi the tendency of a portion of the 

 colour is to appear as if beneath the surface, but there needs to 

 be a further layer or superficial series of blotches to show a 

 contrast in layering. In H. sanctus the pigment is all superficial. 



The colouration of birds' eggs abounds with theory, and, 

 rather than add to it, I simply add a new fact or two. 



Descriptions of a New Calamanthus and a New 

 Megalurus from Western Australia. 



By Alex. Wm. Milligan, Perth. 



In the last issue of The Enui I described a new MelitJireptus 

 which I discovered in an expedition to the Stirling Ranges, in 

 the South-East Division of this State. Since then I have gone 

 carefully through all the skins collected, with the result that I 

 have to add a new Calamajithiis to the list of /Xustralian birds. 

 Also I have to add a new Megaliirns, from Lake Yanchep, 

 which I obtained during the last Christmas holidays. 



Calamanthus montanellus, n. sp. 



General colour above dingy greyish-brown, streaked with 

 black, the feathers being distinctly centred with this colour, 

 but not so broadly as in C. fuli^inosns, the streaks running in 

 more defined longitudinal lines than in that species ; rump 

 and upper tail coverts uniform, tinged with a faint greenish 

 shade; uppermost pair of tail feathers uniform dingy brown, 

 and without subterminal black bar; forehead faintly washed 

 with rufous; lores whitish; eyelid and a narrow eyebrow white ; 

 ear coverts brown, resembling feathers of forehead, and showing 

 the faintest tinge of rufous ; cheeks, chin, throat, and chest ashy- 

 white, boldly streaked with black down the centre of the 

 feathers ; remainder of under surface light yellowish-buff, 

 becoming almost white on abdomen. The sides only of the 

 body streaked with black ; axillaries and under wing coverts 



