A. J. 
Data Campbell's No. of 
No. 
No, in 
Book. 
Eggs. 
THE JACKSONIAN OOLOGICAL COLLECTION. 
few years built. While climbing up to one of the nests, and when nearing the same, I received rather 
an unexpected shock by finding a huge Goana, known also as Iguana (Hydvosaurus varius), just starting 
to eat one of the heavily incubated eggs, though fresh ones are, of course, generally preferred. The 
ugly creature, in its sudden amazement, jumped on my head, and then descended to the ground. The 
feeling was not by any means pleasant, but the experience was rather unique. My brother and I have 
often seen these Iguanas eating Magpies’ eggs on the rocky ridges north-west of Toowoomba, Q. The 
Magpies built in the Ironbark trees on these spurs, and we have frequently hunted these reptiles from 
the nests during season of 1889. Ona more recent visit to the haunts of the Satin Bird, I found them 
all busily engaged building, and came across several of their partially constructed nests, which were 
again placed in Oak trees. Having to return to Grafton a few days after, and unable to await the result 
of the building operations, I arranged with a friend who was camped in the locality to take the eggs for 
me later on, and left him the necessary blowpipes and drills. | However, before the birds had started 
to lay, and as the nests were nearing completion, a disastrous hail storm broke over the district one 
afternoon, devastating everything and smashing the nests beyond all recognition. In the thickly 
timbered belt of country extending from Nymboida to the rich Don Dorrigo plateau, severe hail storms 
of an unusual character 
are very prevalent during 
the warmer months. I 
have seen the bark on 
the Eucalyptus trees in 
these localities deeply 
dented all over on the 
side which the storm 
had struck, and so deep 
were these incisions that 
they appeared like the 
marks resulting from the 
blow of a hammer. These 
bruises soon turn to a 
brownish color, remain- 
ing visible on the trees 
for many months ; then 
disappear gradually as 
the bark is shed. Al 
though I have been BOWER OR PLAY GROUND OF THE SATIN BOWER BIRD, 
fortunate with the eggs Decorated with numerous snail shells and feathers. 
of this bower bird, they 
are nevertheless rare 
(About one-twelfth of the natural size.) 
Loc,, Badger Corner, Don Dorrigo Scrubs, N.S.W. 
(See data No. 550.) 
items, and are still agreat 
desideratum in many collections. A. J. Campbell, writing on this species, states :—“ It is somewhat 
remarkable that, notwithstanding the Satin Birds are plentiful locally, the eggs are exceedingly rare in 
collections.” 
Beautiful set of 2 eggs, of the irregularly lined variety, the lines and hook-like hieroglyphics being 
chiefly confined to the larger end of the eggs. This is a very rare and peculiar form of markings for 
this species, and they are even more pronounced in the following set. The nest was built in a 
Mistletoe (Lovanthus linophyllus) in a Forest Oak tree, 26 feet from the ground, at Bostobric, near Don 
Dorrigo scrubs, N.S.W. Taken by Frank and Sid. W. Jackson on the 14th of October, 1898. Speci- 
men A. measures = 1°57 x 1°15. Of the bowers or play-houses of this species we found quite a 
number, both in the Clarence River district and in the Don Dorrigo. Those found in the latter locality 
108 
