THE VICTOKIAN NATURALIST. 147 



incubation commenced the Green-leek exhibited a great dislike 

 for the quails, frequently chasing them from the nest. After this 

 had gone on for about a week I removed the parrot, and the hen 

 quail sat in peace. A glance at . her whilst sitting showed how 

 these birds manage to cover such large clutches of eggs in a 

 state of nature. The long feathers on the sides of the breast 

 spread out at right angles from the body until the bird could 

 hide an ordinary tea saucer. Although the male bird passed 

 most of the time beside his mate, I do not think he took any 

 part in the work of incubation, as he never stayed at the nest 

 when the female was away. Early on 3rd February I saw 

 broken egg-shells near the nest, and two small chocolate- 

 coloured heads protruding from under the wings of the female ; 

 but the male was perched on the parrot's log, about four feet 

 high. Next morning, five chicks were seen following the mother, 

 but the male bird kept out of the way, preferring the company 

 of the parrots to that of his wife and family. Unfortunately 

 some of the chicks got into the water dish, and one was 

 drowned ; but the other four are thriving well, and have now 

 wing feathers over an inch long. The male bird is now in 

 constant attendance on them, and when finely chopped meat or 

 green vegetables are thrown to them he picks up pieces and 

 holds them in his bill until the young ones take them from him. 

 They all scratch like common fowls, and are fed principally on 

 canary seed. When I was removing the two unhatched eggs 

 with a spoon tied on a stick, the hen bird cliarged at it with her 

 feathers ail distended like a bantam fowl would at a strange dog. 

 — G. A. Keartland. 13th February, 1899. 



The Scrub Robin. — x\n additional note concerning the eggs 

 of the Scrub Robin, Drymaondiis brtmneopi/gius, Gould, may be 

 of interest. In December, 1892, a clutch of two eggs was given 

 rne by Mr. R. Watson as those of a bird inhabiting the Mallee, 

 near Swan Hill, Victoria, which was brown in appearance, slender 

 in body, and with a long tail. The moment I saw Mr. French's 

 egg, as described by Mr. A. J. Campbell in Victorian Naturalist, 

 vol. XV., p. 130, I knew what it was. I had long been waiting to 

 identify, and accordingly now had the opportunity. Two eggs 

 formed the clutch. While one is almost o«yal in shape the other 

 has one small apex, and although the latter has its confluent 

 markings around the larger apex, the former is evenly marked all 

 over the surface with slate, appearing as if beneath the surface, 

 and cinnamon brown above. Thus in three eggs known to 

 science we have already two types. In all other respects the eggs 

 agree with that described by Mr. Campbell. From the same 

 locality I have obtained birds in the flesh. — Robert Hall. 17th 

 February, 1899. 



