MIMT3T.A.. 



433 



Mimeta sagittata {Lath.). 

 (Plate XIX. figs. 11 & 12.) 



Oriolus viridis, Ramsay, Ibis, 1863, p. 179 ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds B. M. 



iii. p. 212 (1877) ; Nehrk. Kat. Eiersamml. p. 19 (1899) ; Campbell, 



Nests ^ Eggs Austr. Birds, \. p. 81, pi 6 (1901). 

 Mimeta viridis, Gould, Handb. Birds Austr. i. p. 462 (I860) ; North, 



Nnts 8( Eggs Birds Austr. p. 183 (1889). 

 Oriolus sagittatus. North, Nests ^ Eggs Birds Austr. i. p. 75 (1902). 

 Mimeta .sagittata, Sharpe, Hand-l. v. p. 555 (1909) [part.] ; Nehrk. Kat. 



Eiersamml. p. 358 (1910). 



The eggs of the New South Wales Oriole are of precisely the 

 same t}'pe as the single egg of M. flavocincta described above, but 

 are rather larger. In one specimen, however, the dark umber- 

 brown markings are entirely absent, and the shell is thickly 

 covered with spots, blotches, and clouds of yellowish-brown and 

 inky-purple. In all the examples the markings are very numerous 

 and prominent at the broad end, where they form an irregular zone 

 or cap. They measure from 1'28 to l'3n in length, and from -91 

 to '95 in breadth. 



2. Australia. W. Radcliffe Saunders, Esq. 



[P.]. 



3. New South Wales. Gould Coll. 

 2. Dobroyd, N. S. Wales. (jould Coll. 



1 . Victoria (J. Gould : Tristram Crowley Bequest. 



Coll.). 



2. Victoria, 2nd Sept. {A. J. North). Crowley Bequest. 



2. Victoria. Govt, of Victoria [P.]. 



1. Gippsland, Victoria. F. A. Philbrick, Esq. [P.]. 



Mimeta affinis, Govld. 

 (Plate XIX. figs. 13 & 14.) 



Mimeta affinis, Gould, Handb. Birds Austr. i. p. 465 (1865) ; North, 



Nests Hi Eggs Birds Austr. p. 184, pi. xi. fig. 12 (1889). 

 Oriolus affinis, Sharpe, Cat. Birds B. M. iii. p. 188 (footnote, 1877) : 



Ramsay, Proa. Linn. Soc. N.S. W. vi. p. 576 (1881) ; Le Sou'ef, Vict. 



Nat. XVI. p. 62 (1899); Nehrk. Kat. Eiersamm,l. p. 19 (1899); 



Campbell, Nests ^ Eggs Austr. Birds, i. p. 79 (1901) ; North, Nests 



Sf Eggs Birds Austr'. i. p. 78 (1902). 

 Mimeta sagittata, Slmrpe, Hand-l. v. p. 555 (1909) [part.]. 



The eggs of the North Australian Oriole vary much in size and 

 shape, some being of a broad oval, others much more elongate ; 

 they are fairly glossy. The ground varies from white to pal« 

 creamy-white, marked all over, but not very thickly, with 

 well-defined spots and specks of dark umber-brown and underlying 

 dull lavender. They vary in length from 1-23 to 1 -42, and iu 



VOL. V. • 2 F 



