Vol. xiii.j Campbell, A Commonwealth Collection. 6q 



Among the " blue beauties " are the eggs of Zoster ops, in lustrous 

 triplets of delicate greenish-blue — or are they bluish-green ? The 

 remarkable Coachwhip-Birds {Psophodes) lay remarkable eggs of 

 a pale bluish shade, marked with a few hieroglyphics and commas. 

 A specimen of P. crepitans is given (pi. xiii., fig. 7), also a similar 

 beautiful eg§, of the Wedgebill {Sphenostoma cristatum) is figured 

 (pi. xiii., fig. 13). 



Orioles' eggs are easily recognized by their artistic shining and 

 stony shades splashed with umber, while those of the Fig-Birds 

 {Sphecotheres) are studies in rich reds and greens. For an 

 example of 5. flaviventris see pi. xii., fig. 2. 



The Honey-eaters' (family Meliphagidce)^ mostly salmon-tinted 

 eggs, are bewildering for their number, variety, and beauty. Of 

 the graceful Ptilotes, there may be mentioned P. macleayana, rare 

 and reddish (pi. xiii., fig. 12) ; the common P. fusca, with few 

 markings, but richly coloured ; P. versicolor, resembling much the 

 familiar eggs of P. sonora (Singing Honey-eater), delicate, and 

 almost uniform in colour, merely a pinkish blush ; while the scarce 

 Xanthotis filigera (Streak-naped Honey-eater) shines with red 

 speckles. The MyzanthcB are full flushed in colouration : the 

 similarity of M. flavigula and M. lutea strongly show their sub- 

 specific connection, and, together with M. ohscura, appear 

 oologically separate from the common Miner, M. garrula. 



Among the Friar-Birds the splendid series of Tropidorhynchus 

 bnceroides (pi. xii., fig. 9) is most captivating, and their bold and 

 brilliant reds, as in the case of the Miners, serve to differentiate 

 it from its congeners, the eggs of which have lovely lilac markings, 

 and are of soft appearance. Therefore, on oological grounds, Mr. 

 Mathews would appear to have reasons for generically subdividing 

 the Friar-Birds (see Austral Avian Record, vol. i., p. 117). 



The true Thrushes (Tiirdidcr) betray their kind in comple- 

 mentary shades of greens mottled with reds. For a fine example 

 of Oreocincla cnneata (Broadbent Ground-Thrush) see pi. xii., 

 fig. 10. 



Drongo-Shrikes (Chibia bracteata) are very striking specimens, 

 illuminating the trays with pinkish-red quartets. 



The Grallina, or Magpie-Lark, is a truly Commonwealth bird, 

 because found common in every State, except, perhaps, Tasmania, 

 and this " Commonwealth Collection " possesses many sets of 

 its eggs (several fives), varying in colour from white to rich 

 reddish-buff speckled with purple. One pecuhar set of four is 

 altogether white. 



The Calamanthi (Field-Wrens), notably montanellus, are coffee- 

 coloured and lustrous, while the Speckled Warbler {Chthonicola 

 sagittata) is singular in appearance and chocolate-coloured 

 (pi. xiii., fig. 17). 



The SphemircB (Bristle-Birds) eggs are reddish, and so rare and 

 beautiful that two — 5. hroadhenti and S. hrachyptera — are figured 

 (pi. xiii., figs. 5 and 6). 



The eggs of the forest-loving birds appeal to one's imagination 



