l54 White, Descriptions of Neiv or Rare Eggs. [,5t^"jan. 



Dimensions in inches, 1.67 x 1.20. 



Collected by Mr. H. G. Barnard at Cardwell, North Queens- 

 land, on I2th August, 1916. 



Nest a frail structure of dried twigs placed on a bunch of mistle- 

 toe (Loranthus) growing on a stringybark tree about 50 feet 

 from the ground. 



Climacteris minor, Ramsay {Climacteris leucophcea minor). Lesser 

 White -throated Tree-creeper. 



Types. — ^Two eggs, swollen oval in shape, surface of shell very 

 fine and almost devoid of gloss. Ground colour very pale creamy- 

 white, sparingly marked (especially specimen a) all over with 

 minute spots and specks of reddish-brown and pale lilac. 



(a) .82 X .62, {b) .84 X .62 inches. 

 . Collected by Mr. H. G. Barnard on the Kirrama Range, Card- 

 well, North Queensland, on 28th October, 1916. 



Nest consisted of green moss and soft bark to a depth of 

 6 inches, placed in a hollow of a small tree in scrub ; eggs in small 

 depression on top of the moss. 



Eulabeornis castaneiventer, Gould {Eulabeomis castaneoventris 

 castaneoventris). Chestnut-bellied Rail. 



Eggs of this bird are so exceedingly rare that, although Mr. 

 Mathews describes a clutch of four (" Birds of Australia," vol. i., 

 p. 200), it may not be out of place if I give some further par- 

 ticulars. 



For many years I had to be content with odd eggs — one taken 

 near Normanton, North Queensland, and another at the Aru 

 Islands ; then Mr. Mathews very kindly presented me with a pair 

 taken at Melville Island, Northern Territory. Now Mr. M'Lennan 

 has secured several clutches, all taken at the King River, about 

 go miles east of Port Essington, N.T., where the birds are 

 plentiful but extremely shy and difficult to observe, as they live 

 entirely in the mangrove scrubs along the tidal waters of the 

 river. Several skins of this really splendid Rail accompanied 

 the eggs ; I had not previously seen a specimen, and am naturally 

 delighted at obtaining such novelties. 



Stomach contents consisted of small crabs. 



The nest is a large, loose structure of sticks, grass, and leaves ; 

 a typical example measures 14 x 12 x 8 inches, while the egg- 

 chamber measures 8 x 2| inches. The nests are placed at heights 

 varying from 2 feet to 10 feet, in leaning trees, upturned roots, 

 &c., among the densest mangrove scrub. 



The eggs, five appearing to be the maximum clutch, are of 

 typical Rail shape, and coloured much like those of Hypotcenidia 

 philippensis, Linn., though in many cases the coloured spots can 

 scarcely be seen for dirt. 



Two typical clutches of five eggs each give an average measure- 

 ment of 2.0 X 1.44 and 2. 11 x 1.41 inches respectively. 



