301 Mr. E. P. Ramsay on Birds breeding near Sydney. 



The eggs of the Black-eyed Crows are of a bright green, 

 strongly blotched with deep black and brown markings, with a 

 tinge of yellowish wood-brown in some places. They are from 

 19^ to 21 lines in length by 14 or 15 lines in breadth. 



The nests of both races are alike — large bulky structures of 

 sticks and twigs, some often half an inch thick. These form 

 the groundwork of the nest, which is usually placed in the most 

 inaccessible trees. Finer materials are used for the inner parts, 

 and it is lastly lined with grasses, stringy-bark, and tufts of hair 

 from various dead animals. The eggs are four or five in num- 

 ber. Both races are found over the whole of Australia ; but, as 

 I have above stated with respect to New South Wales, in some 

 places one or the other predominates. In South Australia the 

 White-eyed bird seems to be most common, whereas about 

 Sydney both are equally plentiful. During the breeding-season 

 they are chiefly found in pairs ; but throughout the greater part 

 of the year they assemble in large flocks of from fifty to several 

 hundreds, and are most abundant near the slaughter-houses and 

 " boiling-down " establishments. They also visit the fowl-houses 

 and yards in search of eggs or any refuse that may be thrown 

 out. During the breeding-season they have a great antipathy 

 to Hawks; and should one of these birds come in sight, the 

 angry pair will immediately pursue the intruder, and never de- 

 sist from their efforts until they have driven him away. They 

 usually have two broods a year, beginning to breed in August, 

 and continuing until November, or even later in some instances, 

 according to the locality. 



Crows may be often seen in company with Gulls [Xema 

 Jamesoni), feeding upon the small fry left by the fishermen after 

 drawing their nets on the low sandy parts of the beach. They 

 have a peculiar waddling gait, and when walking appear very 

 clumsy. Their native name is " Warga." 



14. Myzomela sanguinolenta (Gould, vol. iv. pi. 63). 



This is one of the most beautiful of our Australian Honey- 

 eaters. It is strictly a migratory species, arriving here dui'ing 

 July and August, and leaving us again in January. Sometimes 

 it is to be found in great numbers, at others very few come about 



