Vol. VIII. 



j Mattingley, Thermometer-Bird or Mallee-Fowl. 6l 



litter, evidently to turn aside the water, which would percolate to 

 the egg-chamber and interfere with the proper rate and progress 

 of the fermentation, whilst the sticks would help materially to 

 detract from the prominence of the sharp cone, and so make 

 detection more difficult, as well as preventing the loose sand from 

 being scattered by the wind. (See illustration.) Thus sticks on 

 the mound are nearly always a sign that the birds have started 

 to lay. On warm and sunny days the apex of the mound is 

 removed and a concave opening made, so that the warmth of 

 the sun's rays may penetrate and assist in the incubation. 



Descriptions of New or Rare Australian Birds^ Eggs. 



By D. Le Souef, C.M.Z.S., &c., Melbourne. 

 NiNOX PENiNSULARis (Cape York Owl). 



(Mathews, Handl. Bds. of Austr., No. 290.) 

 This fine bird seems to be principally found in the Cape York 

 district. A set of two eggs was found on 4th January, 1907, in a 

 hollow of a eucalyptus tree, the egg being deposited on the decom- 

 posed wood at the bottom, mixed with the small bone remains of 

 birds and small mammals, probably mice. The hollow had 

 evidently been used for some time. The eggs are the usual round 

 type of Owls', and are glossy, smooth, and measure — {a) 1.82 x 

 1.48, {h) 1. 81 X 1.56 inches. The locality was not far from 

 Somerset, Cape York, Northern Australia. 



yEcoTHELES RUFA (Rufous Owlet Nightjar). 



(Mathews, Handl. Bds. of Austr., No. 380.) 

 A clutch of three of the eggs of this bird was found in a hollow 

 of a eucalyptus tree near Derby on 15th November, igo6. They 

 are pure white, with a roughened surface, and are indistinguishable 

 from those of Mgotheles novcB-hoUandice. They measure — {a) 1.12 

 X .90, {b) I. II X .87, (c) 1. 14 X .88 inches. 



CoLLYRiociNCLA wooDWARDi (Woodward Shrike-Thrush). 

 (Mathews, Handl. Bds. of Austr., No. 641.) 

 A clutch of three eggs of this bird was found near Port Darwin, 

 22nd January, 1907. Thej^ are white, well freckled with small 

 markings of umber, the markings being most plentiful at the larger 

 end ; but, as in the other members of this family, there is much 

 variation in the markings of different clutches. They measure — 

 (a) 1.02 X .78, [b) 1.04 X .76, (c) 1.03 X .77 inches. The nest, com- 

 posed of light twigs and leaves, was built in an open cavity in the 

 trunk of a dead tree. 



PiNAROLESTES BOVVERi (Bower Shrikc-Thrush). 



(Mathews, Handl. Bds. of Austr., No, 645.) 

 The eggs of this species are a very pale cream colour, irregularly 

 blotched with dark reddish-brown markings, more plentiful on the 



