Vol. XIII. 



1913 



1 Stray Feathers. AQ 



Out of nine clutches the set described appears to be the most 

 typical, both as regards colour and shape. The eggs of the series 

 vary in shape and ground colour, as well as the general disposition 

 of the markings. Some are pointed ovals, with a pale bluish- white 

 ground ; others are very heavily blotched with umber and pale lilac. 

 The type clutch measures : — {a) 0.75 xo.6i, {b) 0.75 xo.6i, (c) 0.73 

 X 0.61, (d) 0.73 X 0.61. They were collected by Mr. H. G. Barnard, 

 at Brunette Downs, Northern Territory, 3rd April, 1913. 



Ptilotis forresti (Ingram). — Clutch, two eggs ; surface of shell fine 

 and slightly glossy ; oval in shape. Ground colour pale pinkish- 

 buff, becoming very much darker on the apex, where a cap is 

 formed, and here are scattered a few indistinct markings of very 

 pale brown and lilac, the latter appearing as if beneath the shell. 

 The eggs closely resemble those of Ptilotis sonora, except that they 

 are smaller. They measure in inches : — {a) 0.78 x 0.57 ; (&) 0.80 x 

 0.58 ; against an average of nine eggs of P. sonora — 0.89 x 0.66. 

 The eggs belong to a Cuckoo combination clutch, having been 

 found with one egg of Cuciilus paUidiis, and were collected by Mr. 

 H. G. Barnard, at Brunette Downs, Northern Territory, 5th 

 March, 1913. 



Myzantha melanocephala crassirostris (North Queensland Miner). 

 — For years past collectors in North Queensland informed me of a 

 Miner which differed from our southern species, but they were 

 unable to obtain specimens. The eggs described were obtained in 

 1909, but were placed aside pending identification of the bird. Mr 

 G. M. Mathews has since named the sub-species as above. Clutch, 

 three eggs ; oval in shape ; surface of shell smooth and slightly 

 glossy ; texture line. Ground colour very pale salmon, marked 

 with small spots and specks, particularly at the larger end, of 

 reddish-chestnut and purplish-grey, the markings forming a cap 

 at the larger end. The clutch measures in inches : — («) 1.12 

 X 0.77, [h) 1. 12 X 0.76, (c) 1. 15 X 0.77. Collected by Mr. Geo. 

 Sharp, on the Herberton Range, North Queensland, 23rd Novem- 

 ber, 1909. Two other clutches from the same locality measure: — 

 (I) {a) 0.98 X 0.69, (/>) 0.93 X 0.72 ; (2) [a) 0.97 x 0.73, (6) 0.93 

 X 0.71.— H. L. White. Belltrees, N.S.W., 1/6/13. 



Springfield (Tasmania) Notes. — Gang-Gang Cockatoo (C«Z/ocg/)A«/on 

 galeatum). — A flock of these birds visited this district several times 

 this year. They appear to have their home in mountain ranges to 

 the south-east. One bird was either attacked by some bird or 

 shot at, as some of its feathers were lying on the road. They were 

 soft, downy, red feathers, blood-stained at the base. 



Scrub-Tit (Acanthornis magna). — Last season I discovered that 

 this bird is an inhabitant of the dense scrubs on our mountain 

 slopes. Three nests were given to me. One had been blown 

 down in a gale. The second was found when the bird was sitting 

 on three eggs. When I asked for these the nest had been robbed. 

 The bird rebuilt, but the two eggs laid were poorly coloured. 



