300 Mr. E, P. Ramsay on Birds breeding near Sydney. 



larger end. They vary in length from 7 to 8^ lines, and from 

 6 to 6^ lines in breadth. 



9. Chelidon ARIEL (Gould, vol. ii. pi. 15). 



The Fairy-Martins arrive about Sydney early in August, and 

 begin to build towards the end of September. They, invariably 

 return to the same old building-places, under the eaves of some 

 out-house or shed. 



Upon re/erring to my note-book I see that on the 17th 

 October, 1860, while riding along a watercourse near the 

 Lachlan River, we came across a batch of about two hundred 

 and fifty nests of this species, built closely together under the 

 bank of the watercourse. The birds had not far to go for the 

 mud they used, as there was a little pool of water just below 

 their nests. When they had got as much as they needed in 

 their bills, they took two or three sweeps backwards and for- 

 wards before flying to the nests. Several birds were helping to 

 build one nest. Sometimes two or three would come with their 

 bills full of mud to add to the same nest. 



10. Gymnorhina tibicen (Gould, vol. ii. pi. 46). 



None of the Australian birds I have hitherto met with lay 

 eggs that are subject to greater variety than the present species 

 does. Out of twenty specimens now before me, there are twelve 

 very distinctly marked varieties ; and I will endeavour to describe 

 those of them which are from the neighbourhood of Sydney. 



Var. a. In this, which is perhaps the most common variety, 

 the ground-colour is of a very pale sky-blue or bluish white, 

 with spots of lilac and numerous irregular markings of light 

 brown equally distributed over the whole surface of the egg. 

 Length, from 16 to 20 lines; breadth, from 13 to 15 lines. 



Var. yS. Ground-colour pale bluish or greenish white, with 

 long curved markings, smears, and dashes of reddish brown. 

 Length, 18 lines; breadth, 13 lines. 



Var. 7. When first emptied of the contents, the ground- 

 colour of this variety is a beautiful light green, with deep rust- 

 red blotches over the whole surface, but run together so as to 

 form one large patch on the thicker end. Length, 19 lines ; 

 breadth, 15 lines. This variety is usually seen in a very long egg. 



