Vol. XII, 

 1912 



1 White, Eggs of Lesser Safin Bower-Bird. 21 



set ; surface of shell minutely pitted all over, and having but little 

 gloss. In shape pointed ovals. Ground colour [a) light cream, 

 (b) light yellowish-cream, sparingly spotted and blotched, chiefly 

 at the larger ends, with umber and reddish-brown, also purplish- 

 grey and slaty markings appearing as if beneath the surface of the 

 shell. The pair measure in inches : — (a) 1.73 x 1.15, (b) 1.74 x 1.17. 



Taken by Mr. Geo. Sharp, at Cedar Creek, near Evelyn, Cairns 

 district. North Queensland, 3rd November, 1908. 



In a series of seven sets of two eggs each, two pairs only have 

 the ground colour of a darkish crearn. This series when placed 

 beside those of the southern bird (P. violaceus) are readily 

 separated, the eggs of P. minor being smaller, not so swollen in 

 shape, and of a much paler ground colour. Again, in the markings 

 spots and blotches only occur, there being no lines, as is often the 

 case with the eggs of the southern form. 



Description of Eggs of Ninox strenua (Gould). 

 By H L. White, R.A.O.U., Belltrees, N.S.W. 



{Published in "Bulletin No. 3 " of the R.A.O.U., 21/5/12.) 



On page 48 of "Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds," Mr. A. J. 

 Campbell describes an egg from the Adelaide Museum, supposed 

 to be that of Ninox strenua, but he observes : — " However, we shall 

 welcome any information giving a description of a complete set." 



In view of the measurements of the eggs described below, I 

 think the Adelaide Museum specimen is most probably that of 

 Ninox rufa, Gould, as it corresponds in size with specimens of the 

 eggs of that species in my collection. The eggs of Ninox strenua 

 have up to the present time been on the desiderata list of every 

 Australian oologist; fo.r my own part I had almost given up 

 hope of ever obtaining them. However, through the kindness 

 of Mr. Rowland Archer, of Tooradin, Victoria, I have his 

 permission to describe the eggs, besides becoming the proud 

 possessor of a specimen of the type set, Mr. Archer retaining the 

 others. 



The eggs, three in number, were taken by James Franks, a 

 collector for Mr. Archer, from the spout of a tree growing in dense 

 scrub, near Kingaroy, north of Brisbane, Queensland, on the 23rd 

 November, 1911, the parent bird being clearly identified. The 

 eggs are of typical Ninox shape, being almost round : the shell is 

 pure white, close grained and glossy, with a few limy excrescences 

 scattered over the surface ; one specimen has a number of shallow 

 longitudinal grooves or creases running the whole length of the 

 shell. 



Measurements in inches : — {a) 2.29 x 1.94, (b) 2.23 x 1.9, (c) 2.15 

 X 1. 91. 



Note. — Specimen a is in H. L. White's collection, b and c in that 

 of Rowland Archer. 



