■Australian Bird Notes.



209



AUSTRALIAN BIRD NOTES.


By Grkgory M. Mathews, F.R.S.E.


In a collection of bird skins, eggs and nests sent to me

from North-West Australia, I find some interesting material.


The nest of the Pale Bush Lark ( Mirafra milligani ,

Mathews), was found out in an open plain and was placed between

two small bunches of grass. It was constructed of stems and

blades of old dead grass and lined with finer material of the

same kind. In shape it was hooded, with a large opening in the

side. Dimensions outside: 4J by 4 by 4 inches high. Inside:

2 by 2 by 2f inches high. Size of entrance : if wide by 2 inches

high.


The nest was built into a small neatly-made hole in the

ground.


Clutch, three. Stone-colour marked all over with irregular

spots of brown, with underlying ones of lilac. 2o mm - by 14.


Two of these eggs were hard set, the other clear. The

parents were also sent. Collected 011 January of this year.


This Bush Lark is found in the North-West of Australia


only.


The nest of the Black-tailed Thickhead ( Pachycephala

melamira, Gould), was placed six feet up in a Mangrove tree, in

a three-pronged fork. It was constructed of soft coarse rootlets

(one of which was twenty-four inches long) and lined with finer

ones. The outside of the nest was lightly covered with cobwebs

and was loosely attached to the tree with the same material.

Dimensions outside: 3J by 3§ by 2J inches. Inside: 2 by 2 by

if inches deep.


Clutch, two. Whitish ground colour, with a ring round the

top end, of red spots and underlying ones of grey. 2i mm - by 16.


Collected Dec. 27th, 1910. The parents were also sent.


The nest of the White-bellied Thickhead {Pachycephala

lanoides, Gould), was placed six feet up in a white Mangrove, and

was built in a fork in the centre of a small tree growing out in

the open beach about ten yards from the Mangrove thicket. The

nest was conspicuous, and was built of twigs and rootlets and

lined with finer material. It was fastened to the tree with cob¬

webs. Dimensions outside : 45 by 4f by 2J inches deep. Inside :

2f by 2 h by if inches deep.



