136 Jackson, Description of two New Nests and Eggs. \ ^^^^l^ 



Description of two New Nests and Eggs. 

 By Sid. Wm. Jackson, A.O.U., New South Wales. 



ACANTHIZA TENUIROSTRIS, Zietz. 



Nest. — An oblong structure, dome shaped, and resembling 

 that of the Malnri, except that it is more loosely made and not 

 nearly so compact. Length, 5 inches ; width, nearly 3 inches ; 

 the opening is 1]/^ inches across, and is situated nearly at 

 the top of the nest, the hood only covering two-thirds of the 

 opening and body of the nest beneath. It is loosely constructed 

 of thin strips of bark of a stringy nature, and portions of a soft 

 plant, which are woven together and fastened with cobwebs. 

 Warmly lined inside, especially at the bottom, with a white sub- 

 stance resembling short pieces of wool, but which is probably the 

 down collected from flowering plants. 



Nest was found suspended from the topmost twigs of a low 

 samphire bush, near Lake Way,* Western Australia, on 26th 

 August, 1909. 



Eggs. — Three in number ; ground colour white, with a very 

 faint tinge of pink in them. Shell fine, but with very little gloss. 

 Specimens a and b are well marked all over, but particularly at 

 the larger ends, with very small spots of dull reddish-brown. 

 Specimen c is almost devoid of markings, with the exception of 

 very minute specks of dull reddish-brown, which are scattered all 

 over the shell, and forming a very indistinct cap at the larger 

 end. The eggs are swollen ovals in shape, and measure as 

 follows : — {a) 0.57 x 0.43, {b) 0.57 x 0.43, {c) 0.57 x 0.44 inch. 



Amytornis GIGANTURA, Milligan. 



Nest. — An open, cup-shaped structure, which in miniature 

 somewhat resembles that of Collyi'iocincla harmonica. Width of 

 nest over all, 4^ inches ; ^g^ cavity, 2]/^ inches across by i^ 

 inches in depth. Constructed of strips of bark and long portions 

 of a soft white flowering plant. Lined with short, soft pieces of 

 flat grass and plant-stems, also a quantity of soft white vegetable 

 matter. The nest was placed about 20 inches from the ground 

 in a dense salt-bush, which measured about 6 feet in circum- 

 ference and about 3 feet in height. Taken at Lake Way, Western 

 Australia, on 23rd August, 1909. 



Eggs. — Three in number, ground colour a warm white or 

 dull pink, beautifully marked all over with spots and blotches 

 of very rich reddish-brown, which become confluent at the 

 larger ends, where they form an irregular zone or cap. 

 Here and there on each egg will be found a few markings of 

 light slate, appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell. 



* Lake Way is about 400 miles inland in an easterly direction from Geraldton 

 which is the nearest point on the coast. 



