270 NOTES ON THE NESTING OF ALCYONE PULCHRA, GOULD, 



out, SO both of the parent birds were in the hole at the same time. 

 The bird I captured, afterwards upon dissection, proved to be a 

 male. The nest if worthy of the name, was placed near the end of 

 the tunnel, which was about sixteen inches in length, and inclined 

 upwards; it was composed of a few cast fish bones, and small 

 pieces of decayed roots, but in all not sufficient to protect the eggs 

 from the sandy soil at the bottom. The nest contained five eggs, 

 three of which were unfortunately broken." 



The two remaining eggs, which I exhibit here to-night, are 

 similar to those of the southern representative, A. azurea, being 

 rounded in form, pearly white, with the texture of the shell 

 tine and very glossy. Length (A), 0-87 x 073 inch ; (B), 0-85 x 

 0-74 inch. [From the Aust. Mus. Coll.) 



