56 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



By Mr. T. S. Hart, M.A. — Calcite, aggregates of crystals (mainly 

 rhombohedra) in basalt, from Ascot mines, near Ballarat. 



By Mr. J. Stickland. — Specimens of the freshwater algre 

 Pandorina morum, under the microscope. 



By Mr. F. Wisewould. — Land shells from Queensland, in- 

 cluding Papuina mayana, new to science. 



After the usual conversazione the meeting terminated. 



SOME NORTH-WEST QUEENSLAND BIRDS. 



(Co7itiniied.J 



By Wm. Macgillivray, M.B., B.S. 



{Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, llth March, 1901.) 



Cracticus. — Two species of this genus are common. 



Pachycephala rufiventris. — The loud and pleasant note of 

 the Rufous-breasted Thickhead is a familiar one in the gidgee 

 scrubs ; it is a little smaller tlian the Victorian bird, and has that 

 faded appearance which has been mentioned as characteristic of 

 many Northern species. It nests in January and February. 



WooD-S\VALLO\vs are quite common, the Black-faced, Artamus 

 melanops, being the prevalent species, the White-browed, Masked, 

 and Little being nearly as numerous. 



AcANTHiZA CHRYSORRHOA. — Skins, uests, and eggs of the 

 Yellow-rumped Tit are like Victorian specimens in every respect, 

 and the birds are equally as common. 



Ephthianura tricolor and E. AURiFRONS.--Both species of 

 chat are common during the rainy months, when they breed 

 amongst the saltbush of the billabongs or any stunted scrubs. 



Lalage TRICOLOR. — Judging by the numbers of the White- 

 shouldered Caterpillar-eater eggs in collections from the Gulf, 

 that part of Australia would seem to be specially favoured as a 

 breeding haunt. 



MiCRO-XA pallida. — This little bird is a smaller and paler 

 edition of our own well-known Fly-catcher. Its habits are very 

 similar ; it may often be seen on stumps or fence posts, sallying 

 forth at intervals to capture some luckless insect ; its nest, how- 

 ever, is somewhat more substantial, and eggs very like but 

 smaller than those of M. fascinans. 



PETRfi:CA BicoLOR. — The Hooded Robin frequents the giddia, 

 where its nest may be found in October and November. Mr. 

 North, to whom I submitted a skin, states that " it is smaller than 

 average New South Wales and Queensland skins, but not so 

 small as Gould's M. picata, the bill being comparatively larger." 

 The eggs are decidedly smaller than Victorian ones, but are other- 

 wise similar. 



Malurus. — Two wrens frequent the polygonum and under- 



