652 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION D. 
PHILEMON ARGENTICEPS, Gould. 
‘‘ Silvery-crowned Friar-bird.” 
Figure.—Gould, Bds. of Australia, fol., vol. iv, pl. 59. 
heference.—Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., vol. ix, p. 272. 
Geographical Distribution.—North-west Australia, Northern 
Territory, and North Queensland. 
Nest and Eggs. —Unknown. 
Observations.—As Gould points out, the Silvery-crowned Friar- 
bird is somewhat inferior in size to the common species (P. cornicu- 
latws), from which it may also be distinguished by the crown of the 
head being adorned with well-defined, small, lanceolate feathers. 
PHILEMON BUCEROIDES, Swainson. 
“ Helmeted Friar-bird.” 
Figure.—Gould, Bds. of Australia, fol. sup., pl. 44. 
Reference.—Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus., vol. 1x, p. 272. 
Previous Description of Eggs.—Campbell, Southern Science 
Record (1883). 
Geographical Distribution.—Northern Territory and North 
Queensland. 
Nest.—Open, bulky, somewhat loosely constructed ; composed 
of grass (including roots) and strips of Melaleuca bark interwoven , 
in our example is a rag and a piece of hay-band ; inside lined with 
long, pliable, dark-coloured twigs; usually suspended in a fork at 
the extremity of a branch, in forest country. Dimensions over all : 
8-9 inches by 7 inches in depth ; egg cavity, 5 inches across by 
3 inches deep. 
Eggs.—Clutch, 3-4, occasionally 5; lengthened in form, tapering 
towards one end; texture fine; surface slightly glossy ; colour, 
different from those of the other known species of the genus, being 
pinkish-white, boldly and beautifully blotched and_ splashed, 
especially on the larger end, with brownish-red and purple, the 
rest of the surface or intervening spaces being minutely dotted 
with the same colours. Dimensions of a clutch in inches: (1) 
1:28:x -87; (2) 1:26 x -88; (3) 1:25 x °88. Three from/another 
clutch of five, taken on Magnetic Island, near Townsville, 1893, 
gives—(]) 1:24 x -91; (2) 1:22 x ‘91; (3) 12x °9. 
Observations.—This fine bird is restricted, as far as is known, 
to Northern Queensland, including the Gulf of Carpentaria district, 
where it represents the ordinary Friar-bird of southern latitudes. 
In 1893, in the Bloomfield River district, Mr. D. Le Souéf found 
the Helmeted Friar-bird numerous, where it commenced nest- 
building about the end of October. He was presented with a 
splendid nest by Mr. T. A. Gulliver, who obtained it from Mag- 
netic Island, near Townsville. This example, together with three 
