26 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



In 1875 Mr James Eamsay, according to Mr A. J. North, 

 obtained several specimens of eggs, with the birds, at 

 Tyndarie (New South Wales). 



About the end of October 1877, while searching for speci- 

 mens along a billabong of the river Darling, not far from 

 Wentworth, New South Wales, I found a nest, about 20 feet 

 from the ground, near the top of a red-green {Eucalyptus) 

 sapling in a belt of timber. A bird (probably the hen) was 

 sitting, and did not leave until I had climbed close to it. 

 The nest was loosely composed of sticks and twigs, and 

 lined inside with finer twigs and grass, and contained 

 1 fresh ^gg, the most remarkable for beauty, and the 

 wonderful character of its markings, that it has ever been 

 my fortune to find. 



A nest of a Spotted Bower-Bird was pointed out to me, 

 from which a pair of beautiful eggs was taken on the 14th 

 November 1894. The nest was the usual frail structure, 

 built at the height of about 30 feet, from the ground, near 

 the top of a pine tree [Gallistris). The tree was situated 

 about 200 yards from a dwelling on Neimur Creek, Eiverina, 

 and was discovered by one of the lads tracking the bird 

 while carrying a twig to construct its nest. The eggs, which 

 are of a light coloured type, are now in the collection of 

 Mr Joseph Gabriel, Abbotsford, Victoria. 



It appears the Spotted Bower-Bird occasionally lays 3 eggs. 

 Mr E. Macfarlane, formerly of the Mailer Cliffs station. New 

 South Wales, found a nest containing 3 eggs in a needle-bush 

 {Hakea). While the specimens awaited a favourable oppor- 

 tunity to be sent to Melbourne for my collection, the station 

 cook, it is supposed, took a fancy to them, for they somehow 

 mysteriously disappeared. Again, Mr W. L. Hutton, writing 

 to me from Lessington, near Bourke, says : — " I saw three 

 nests of the Bower-Bird last season (1895), one of which had 

 3 eggs in it." 



The note of the Spotted Bower-Bird is somewhat harsh 

 and scolding. But it is not generally known, nor has it 

 been properly recorded, that these birds are accomplished 

 mocking creatures, as several of my bush friends can attest. 

 The Misses Macaulay, of " Bannockburn," Eiverina, had one 



