642 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION D. 
Observations.—Gould considers this to be the finest species of 
the genus, exceeding as it does every other, both in size and in 
the brilliancy of its colouring. Absolutely nothing is known of 
its economy. 
ACANTHOCH/HRA CARUNCULATA, Latham. 
* Red-wattled Bird.” 
Figure.—Gould, Bds. of Australia, fol., vol. iv., pl. 55. 
Reference.—Cat. Bds, Brit. Mus., vol. ix, p. 263. 
Previous Descriptions of Eggs.—Gould, Bds. of Austr. (1848) ; 
also Hdbk., vol. i, p. 539 (1865). North, Cat. Nests and Eggs, 
Austn. Mus., p. 215 (1889). 
Geographical Distribution.—South Queensland, N. 8. Wales, 
Victoria, South and West Australia. 
Nest,—-Open, occasionally somewhat flat ; composed of twigs 
and strips of bark matted together, in Western Australia, but in 
the east composed of twigs ; lined with grasses or soft bark, wool, 
and a few feathers. Dimensions over all, 6-7 inches ; egg cavity, 
34 inches across by 2 inches deep. Variously situated, from a 
low, open bush up to closely-set branchlets, or mistletoe clump of 
a tall tree. 
Lggs.—Clutch, 2-3; nearly oval, compressed towards one end ; 
texture fine; surface slightly glossy ; colour, pinkish-buff or 
salmon-tint, blotched and spotted, especially around the apex, 
with rich reddish-brown, and dull purplish-grey. Dimensions of 
clutches in inches, eastern examples, (1) 1:26 x -9; (2) 1:25 x ‘92. 
Examples from Western Australia are usually rounder in form, 
ground colour a lighter pinkish tone, and are smaller in size, 
(COG aks ie a(2) lisloiad “SG; 
Observations.—The restless and shy Wattle-bird is found chiefly 
in the coastal regions, from South Queensland round to Western 
Australia, and is regarded as a common species. They are good 
eating—10 birds averaged 43 oz. in weight. My first experience 
of the bird was many years ago, when I took its lovely, salmon- 
pink eggs in Albert Park, near Melbourne. Since I have taken 
their nests in such places as Mistletoe on Gum-trees in the 
Brighton and Oakleigh districts, in the open, prickly Bursaria 
bushes, in the Mallee, as well as in bushy trees in Western Aus- 
tralia. 
In Mr. Lau’s Queensland (South) note he says :—“ I have seen 
the Wattle, or Gill-bird, near the Pacific, where Honeysuckles 
(Banksia) or sandy ground abound ; nevertheless, as such trees are 
often abundantly to be seen towards the interior, this bird has 
found them out, and there is where I have met with nests, which 
were situated mostly on the top of a slender sapling. Nests 
formed of dry sticks, and rootlets inside ; eggs, 2-3, mostly the 
oD”) 
latter number.” My own experience in the south is that the eggs 
