I 



314 ON THE OOLOGY OF AUSTRALIA, 



Besides the Chough and Grallina, we have another bird 

 which builds its nest of mud, upon a horizontal bough ; 

 this is the Strutliidea cinerea, a bird not found in this district, its 

 habitat being the South Eastern portion of the interior. Mr. 

 Gould quoting from Mr. Gilbert's journal, states that the nests 

 of the StrutJiidea are similar to those of the Grallina, and placed 

 in like situations upon a horizontal bough ; those found by Mr. 

 Gilbert had a thick lining of grass, more than is usually found in 

 the nests of the Grallina, and one of them contained four eggs, 

 " the medium length of which was one inch and a quarter by 

 seven-eighths of an inch in breadth ; their colour was white, with 

 blotches, principally at the larger end, of reddish brown, purplish 

 gray, and greenish gray, some of the blotches appearing as if 

 they had been laid on with a soft brush." 



I might mention many other nests equally curious and beauti- 

 ful, but will proceed to those more immediately connected with 

 our plate. It may be imagined that the figures are too highly 

 coloured, but those who have taken eggs themselves, will know 

 how greatly the specimens fade. The bloom of the more brightly 

 tinted goes off in a few days, while some even lose their original 

 colour altogether, and turn as in the case of the Pied robin, 

 (Petroica ? bicolor) from green to a dull brown ; I might cite 

 numerous other instances, for nearly all the eggs fade consider- 

 ably, even when kept from the light in close boxes. I have tried 

 various means to remedy this, but without success. Gum, if laid 

 on thickly, causes some to keep their colour, but imparts an 

 unnatural gloss, which does not improve their appearance at all. 

 The best way, upon the whole, is to empty them carefully, and if 

 possible, without using water ; when an egg is once wet, it 

 immediately loses its bloom : sucking has this in its favour, that 

 the contents may be withdrawn through almost an invisible hole. 

 Many people use a complete set of instruments for egg-blowing, 

 but these, although useful and handy, may very well be dispensed 

 with. 



The paintings from which the figures on Plate I. were litho- 

 graphed and colored, have been executed by Mrs. Edward Forde, 

 and were, with the exception of the three first, (Nos. 1, 2, and 3) 

 painted from specimens at most only three or four days from the 



