THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 165 



Egg — Well proportioned in shape. Colour, warm white or 

 light flesh tint. Markings consist of softened spots and small 

 blotches of dull red or brown, and are well distributed over the 

 surface except upon the apex, where they are clouded into a 

 patch. Texture of shell thin and fine, surface somewhat glossy. 

 Length, i inch i line ; breadth, g^- lines. The ^%g, at first 

 sight, is not unlike that of the well-known Garrulous Honey- 

 eater (^^f^zawZ/zia: garrula), with the exceptions that the markings 

 are not so bright and surface more polished. (Vide illustra- 

 tion — photo-inkotype, by Mr, L. Hart, "Avenel," High-street, 

 St. Kilda, and member of this Club. The figure is about two- 

 tenths larger than natural size). 



The discovery of the Q.gg of this Rifle-Bird-of-Paradise will 

 attract attention of oologists in all parts of the world. For the 

 addition of this desideraium to ray collection I am indebted to 

 our energetic member, Mr. Charles French, F.L.S. Mr. 

 French's informant states that the nest was an open structure 

 placed in dense scrub. There were two eggs in the nest, but, 

 most unfortunately, in navigating the terrible " lawyer " palms 

 one was broken. 



Members may recollect that two seasons ago I undertook an 

 excursion to Northern Queensland, partly to glean, if possible, 

 observation about thenidification of the Rifle-Bird. I succeeded 

 in reaching those lovely verdure-clad islets — Barnard's Group — 

 in the Coral Sea. It was the first week in September. I had 

 ample opportunity of observing these gorgeously-plumed birds ; 

 but, somewhat to my chagrin, the breeding season had not, or 

 was about to commence, as an examination of some of the 

 females testified. Only in one instance were the ovaries fairly 

 developed. 



It is 38 years ago since this Bird-of- Paradise was discovered and 

 dedicated by the immortal Gould to Queen Victoria, and it is a 

 remarkable coincidence that in the jubilee year of the reign of 

 our Most Gracious Sovereign Lady the egg of this gorgeous bird 

 bearing her name should be revealed to science. It is also a 

 further coincidence that this interesting specimen should be 

 first exhibited and described in the fair colony that likewise 

 bears our beloved Queen's name. Therefore, by permission of 

 the Club, I shall call this rare and unique oological specimen 

 the "Jubilee Egg" of Queen Victoria's Bird-of- Paradise. 



441. Pezoporus formosus — (Ground Parakeet). Locality 

 — Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and 

 Tasmania. Egg — Very round, of a beautiful pure white colour, 

 slightly polished. Length, laf lines; breadth, i of lines. 



The Ground or Swamp Parrakeet breeds in a diff'erent situation 

 to the majority of that family. Mr. E. D. Atkinson, F.L.S., of 



