THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 103 



DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME AUSTRALIAN BIRDS' EGGS 



NOT PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED. 



By Dr. T. P. Lucas. 



PODARGUS PhAL^ENOIDES. 



Motli-pluniecl Podargus. 



Gould describes this bird as a native of Port Essiiigton, the north- 

 "west coast, and abundant in the Coburg Peninsula. Mr. Peerman, 

 a squatter, sent me word that he took a nest in the Riverina. It 

 was the merest platform of sticks. He shot the bird off the nest. 

 I received an egg from a nest taken about 100 miles to the north of 

 Adelaide, Thus it would appear to have a much wider range than 

 noted by Gould. The eggs are two in number, white, ovate oblong, 

 both ends of equal size. 1 inch 4 lines x 1 inch 2 lines. 



Podargus Marmoratus.. 



Marbled Podargus. 



1 have received an egg of a mopoke from near Rockhampton, 

 which, from the size and because of the locality, I am fully persuaded 

 belongs to tliis species. It will be necessary, however, for a future 

 observer to verify tlie same hj shooting a bird. Egg white, 

 ovate oblong ; small end slightly smaller than large end. 1 inch 

 5 lines x 1 inch 2 lines. 



SiTTELLA PiLEATA. 



Black-capped Sittella, 



This bird is the white-throated or white-breasted Tree Creeper of 

 •South Australia. 1 received an egg taken about 100 miles north- 

 west of Adelaide. Tbe nest is similar to that of the Orange-winged 

 Sittella. Egg rounded ovate, large rounded large end, small rounded 

 small end ; ground colour greenish grey, sparingly covered with 

 purplish-grey blotches as if beneath the surface of the shell, and a 

 number of purple-black spots and dots with anindefined smeared out 

 outline, chiefly at the larger end. Number of eggs probably three* 

 9 lines x 7^ lines. 



PSEPHOTUS H^WATORRHOUS. 



Red-vented Parrakeet. Blue Bonnet. 



I met with this bird in the Riverina, where it appears to extend 

 from the Mamoi and Darling to the Murray. It is probably confined 



