158 White, Description of New Australian Birds' Eggs. \_^^"fa.n. 



grass, and placed in a bunch of spinifex {Triodia) growing in 

 rough sandstone country. Outside measurement, 120 mm. x 

 90 mm. 



Eggs, four in number, rather elongated oval in shape ; texture 

 of shell smooth, with a little gloss ; colour white, with small 

 reddish-brown markings distributed plentifully all over the 

 surface. Measurements in inches : — («) .61 x .44, (&) .6 x .44, 

 (c) .59 x .42, {d) .59 X .42. 



A second clutch contains four eggs, each of which is different 

 in size, shape, and colour, the colour varying from heavy blotches 

 of reddish-brown at the larger end to pure white. In a third 

 clutch, of three eggs, the markings are confined to the larger 

 end, while the eggs are shghtly pyriform in shape. 



Type clutch taken by H. G. Barnard, 8th January, 1914 ; locahty, 

 Borroloola, Macarthur River, south-west of Gulf of Carpentaria, 

 Northern Territory. 



The Young of Climacteris leucophaea. 



By J. W. Mellor. 



The young of the White-throated Tree-creeper is not generally 

 known, and even in the early days of ornithology it was mistaken 

 by the noted ornithologist, the late John Gould, for a distinct 

 species ; this was rectified later by Mr. A. J. North. Some con- 

 troversy arose amongst ornithologists at the last R.A.O.U. 

 expedition relative to this bird. A description of the young 

 female from specimens procured by me at Mallacoota, Victoria, 

 during the fourteenth congress expedition of the R.A.O.U. would 

 probably be helpful to ornithology. A notable feature, and one 

 that strikes the observer instantly, is the large patch of bright 

 rufous-brown which extends from a quarter way up the back 

 right down the tail coverts, and forms a conspicuous rufous rump : 

 this is noticeable even in the nestlings, but, I believe, is only found 

 in the young females, for such is my experience with a number 

 of specimens handled. This rufous rump lessens in size and 

 intensity as the bird matures, until it finally disappears, giving 

 place to the slaty-grey colour of the old bird. From specimens 

 now before me I find that the process of changing does not come 

 about by moulting, but by a fading away of the rusty colour and 

 a gradual predominance of the slaty-grey colouration. A bright 

 rusty-brown of the same hue appears just below the ear coverts, 

 and is maintained by the adult female throughout life. The 

 head, neck, and back are of a blackish-brown colour, each feather 

 on the head being narrowly tipped with brown. Those of the 

 mantle have a brownish tip followed by a brownish-black band, 

 and then more brown colouring, giving the bird a somewhat 

 indistinct, freckled appearance. The ear coverts are somewhat 

 coarse and hairy, being blackish-brown with a light brown stripe 

 down the centre of each. The wings are of greyish-brown 

 appearance when closed, the primaries being brownish-black, 



