22 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



in dense scrub. Dimensions over all about 9 inches, by 

 4^ inches in depth ; egg cavity, 5f inches across by 2 inches 

 deep. 



Eggs. — Clutch 2-3, usually 2 ; shape inclined to oval, more 

 pointed towards one end ; texture of shell somewhat fine ; 

 surface glossy, and of a uniform cream colour. 



Dimensions in inches of a full clutch: — (1) a some- 

 what lengthened example, l? x 1'06 ; (2) l'58xl-14; 

 (3) 1-47 X 1-13. Of a clutch of 2 :— (1) 1-58 x 1-03; 

 (2) 1-5 X 1-1. 



These eggs may be readily distinguished from those of 

 the southern Cat-Bird by their smaller size and lighter 

 colouring. 



Observations. — To Australia belong two species of this 

 peculiar genus, the one under notice being the northern 

 and smaller representative of the Cat-Bird of New South 

 Wales. The Herbert Eiver, Mr Broadbent remarks, 

 would appear to be the southern limit of the Spotted 

 Cat-Bird. 



My friend, Mr Dudley Le Souef, who has also explored 

 the palm scrubs of Northern Queensland — the domains of 

 the Spotted Cat-Bird — and to whom I am indebted for a pair 

 of eggs, taken 27th October 1893, says : — " The curious harsh 

 note (not resembling the cat-like cry of the southern bird) 

 of the Spotted Cat-Bird was often heard in the scrub, and 

 several nests found. They appear to prefer building near 

 the top of a slender tree, about 15 feet from the ground, 

 although on one occasion we found one within 2 feet, built 

 on a creeper, but that was an exception." 



The birds do not appear to be at all shy. Mr Le Souef 

 saw one speared by a native in thick scrub. 



Mr North states that during an excursion to the Bellenden- 

 Ker ranges, Messrs E. J. Cairn and Kobert Grant, collecting 

 on behalf of the trustees of the Australian Museum, succeeded 

 in obtaining, among others, a fine series of SpoUed Cat-Birds 

 in different stages of plumage, and, besides finding several 

 nests with young birds, they were fortunate in obtaining a 

 nest with 2 eggs. The nest and eggs were found in the 

 fork of a small sapling, about 7 feet from the ground. 



