562 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



I observed a most curious fact respecting the nidification 

 of this bird : in every instance that I found its eggs, they 

 were deposited on the deserted, dome-shaped, large nest of 

 the Pomaiostomus temj)oralis, so numerous in the Apple-tree 

 Flats in the district of the Upper Hunter ; never within the 

 dome, but in a neat round depression on the top. I had 

 many opportunities of driving the female oflP the nest, and I 

 can therefore speak with confidence as to this fact. Whether 

 the bird always resorts to these nests, or if, under other 

 circumstances, it constructs a nest for itself, are points to 

 which I would call the attention of those who are favourably 

 situated for investigating them. It is probable that, in places 

 where no suitable substitute is to be found, it makes a nest, 

 like other species of its tribe. It commences breeding early, 

 and rears at least two broods in the year : on reference to 

 my note-book, I find I saw fully-fledged young on the 19th 

 of November, and that 1 took many of their eggs in December : 

 they were generally two in number, of a rich salmon-colour 

 irregularly spotted with rustbrown, one inch and a quarter 

 long by ten and a half lines broad. 



The sexes diff'er in no respect from each other either in the 

 colouring of the plumage or in the blended richness and deli- 

 cacy of the blue surrounding the eye, to which it is almost 

 impossible for the artist to do justice. 



The young assume the plumage of the adult from the nest, 

 but diff'er from them in having the naked face and the base 

 of the bill of a pale yellowish olive, which gradually changes 

 to blue after the first season ; this has doubtless occasioned the 

 great number of synonyms quoted above. 



The adults have the crown of the head and back of the 

 neck black ; lower part of the face, chin, and centre of the 

 chest slaty black ; a crescent-shaped mark at the occiput, a 

 line from the lower mandible passing down each side of the 

 neck, and all the under surface pure white ; the upper sur- 

 face, wings, and tail golden olive ; the inner webs of the pri- 



