OF VICTORIA. 87 



leave the nest the feathers of the body are brown, margined 

 with light grey. This colouring is soon exchanged for one 

 of a uniform grey, except on the lower parts of the abdomen 

 and under tail coverts, which are white, and a mark of black 

 which surrounds the eye and spreads over the ears. The 

 throat and forehead in this shape are lighter than the 

 remainder of the plumage, which is somewhat singular, as 

 in the next change that takes place those parts become of 

 a jet black. This colour, I believe, is never afterwards 

 thrown off, but remains a characteristic of the adult shape 

 of both sexes. The infinite changes of plumage which some 

 of the Australian members of this genus undergo from 

 youth to maturity render their investigation very per- 

 plexing. I have done my best to define them correctly ; if 

 T have committed some errors let us hope that a son of the 

 great southern land may l)e imbued with a sufficient love 

 for natural science to pay attention to the subject and place 

 it in a truer light." 



The writer considers there is still room for further 

 observation on this genus, and trusts the hope of the great 

 naturalist will yet be fulfilled. 



A second species numerous in Victoria is the following 

 species — the Little Cuckoo-Shrike. 



Nest. — Small, flat, and closely fitted to the fork of a 

 horizontal bough. It is made of grasses, and externally 

 covered with cobwebs to make the nest resemble the grey 

 surroundings. You need to see the bird fly away to dis- 

 cover it for the first time. 



Eggs. — Three, sometimes two, to a sitting ; ground colour 

 dull olive, with chestnut-brown spots boldly appearing on 

 the surface, and dull lilac-red spots as if beneath the surface. 

 Length, 1*25 inches; breadth, 09 inch. 



