THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



and blotched nearly over the whole surface with roundish 

 markings of umber and slate colour. Dimensions in inches, 

 1.34 x 0.88. 



Ptilopus Swainsoni, Gould (Red-crowned Fruit Pigeon). 



During my visit to the " Big Scrub," Richmond River, 1891, 

 I saw many of these beautiful little pigeons, and although I 

 sought diligently for a nest, as in the case of the Rifle Bird, I 

 returned home without it. However, I am again indebted to 

 Mr. W. T. Bailey for sending a nest and egg of the Fruit Pigeon 

 after me. They were taken with some considerable risk and 

 difficulty at a height of about fifty feet from the ground in a 

 Buyong sapling, by Mr. Isaac Foster. Date, 31st November, 

 1896. 



Nest. — A very slight platform, 4 or 5 inches across, composed 

 of dry twigs placed in a slender horizontal fork. The contents 

 may be easily seen through the nest from beneath. 



Egg. — Oval in shape, sharply nipped off at one end ; texture 

 of shell fine and slightly lustrous ; colour white. Dimensions in 

 inches, 1.16 x 0.81. 



Megaloprepia magnifica, Temminck (Purple-breasted Fruit 

 Pigeon). 



I am not sure that there is any detailed description given of 

 the nest and egg of this truly magnificent pigeon. 



During my visit to the " Big Scrub," New South Wales, 

 November, 1891, a nest of the species was found building, but the 

 operation of scrub-falling in the vicinity caused the birds to desert. 



The nest and egg under notice were forwarded to me by Mr. 

 W. T. Bailey, Richmond River. They were taken by Mr. T. 

 Foster on the 2nd February in a " black myrtle," at a height of 

 about 15 feet from the ground. 



Nest. — Substantial for a pigeon, slightly concave, almost entirely 

 composed of wire-like tendrils of climbing plants upon a foundation 

 of a few coarse sticks. Dimensions, about 6 inches across by 

 2]/ 2 deep. 



Egg. — Elongated in form and considerably pointed towards the 

 smaller end. Surface of the shell finely granulated ; colour 

 white. Dimensions in inches, 1.77 x 1.05. Small, compared 

 with the size of the bird, and, as in the case of most fruit-eating 

 pigeons, a single egg only is laid. 



A NEW BUTTERFLY, LYCjENA CYRILUS, n. sp. 



By E. Anderson and F. P. Spry. 



The announcement of a supposed new species among the "blues" 

 of Victoria was made at the February meeting of the Field 

 Naturalists' Club of Victoria (Victorian Naturalist, vol. xiii., 



