16 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



tail coverts, basal half of the tail, and abdomen white ; head, back, 

 chin, throat, and chest blue-black. "Total length in the flesh, 

 10.5 in.; wing, 6.6; tail, 5; bill, 0.85; tarsus, 1.7 " (A. J. North). 



Female. — Similar to male, except that in addition the lores, 

 the forehead, and throat are white. 



Young. — Similar to adults, but duller in colour. 



Nest. — Bowl shape, composed of mud, lined with grass and 

 a few feathers. The favourite situation is on a bare horizontal 

 limb of a tree, in the vicinity of or standing in water. 



Eggs. — Clutch three to four; pyriform in shape; texture of 

 shell fine; surface glossy; colour white to pinkish- white, more or 

 less spotted, especially about the apex, where the marks often 

 form a confluent band, with spots of pinkish-red and purple. 

 Dimensions in mm. of a clutch :— (1) 28 x 19, (2) 26 x 20, (3) 26.5 

 X 19.5, (4) 27 X 20. 



Breeding Season. — September to January. 



Geographical Distribution. — Tasmania (accidental) and the 

 whole of the mainland. 



Observations.— On the 15th July, 1888, Dr. L. Holden shot the 

 first recorded Tasmanian specimen at Stanley. 



*WHISTLING SHEIKE-THEUSH (Whistling Dick) 

 {Collyriocincla rectirostris, Jard. and Selby). 



Male. — Head, rump, upper tail coverts, and tail grey; back, 

 scapulars, and lesser wing coverts brown, striped with olive; 

 greater coverts and quills dark brown, almost black, outer webs 

 grey; lores and an indistinct line over the eye dull white; chin, 

 throat, and fore-neck almost pure white; rest of under surface 

 greyish-white; sides of body and under tail coverts grey; iris 

 dark brown; bill black; legs and feet blackish. Dimensions in 

 mm. : — Length, 251 ; bill, 24; wing, 124^ tail, 107; tarsus, 30.5. 



Female. — Eyebrow rufous ; feathers of under surface with black 

 shafts; legs and feet greenish-grey; otherwise similar to male. 

 Dimensions in mm.: — Length, 254; bill, 23.5; wing, 123; tail, 

 104; tarsus, 30.5. 



Young. — Male resembles the adult female, save that the sides 

 of the head and upper wing coverts are tinged with rufous ; also the 

 under surface is more broadly streaked. 



Nest. — The cup-shaped nest is usually composed either of 

 narrow strips of stringy-bark, neatly woven together, or moss, fine 

 rootlets, grass and leaves, with a lining of fine grass. The usual 

 situation is a hollow in a tree or stump. 



Eggs.- — Clutch three to four; stout oval in shape, with the 

 texture fine; surface glossy; colour pearly-white, more or less 

 spotted and blotched with olive and dull slate. Dimensions in 



