TANYSIPTEEA. 39 



found in the grounds of Mr. Coxen, near Brisbane, on the 6th of 

 January ; it was a narrow tunnel about twelve inches or less in 

 length, made in a White Ant's nest on a tree a few yards from the 

 ground, it contained five fresh eggs of a clear pearly white, 

 somewhat transparent shell, and abruptly pointed at the smaller 

 Length (A) 1 inch x 0-83 inch ; (B) 1-01 x 0-82 inch ; (C) 1-03 end. 

 X 0-83 inch; (D) 1-05 x 0-82 inch ; (E) 1-05 x 0-85 inch. 



This species breeds during the months of November, December, 

 and January. 



Hah. Derby, N.W.A., Port Darwin and Port Essington, Gulf 

 of Carpentaria, Cape York, llockingham Bay, Port Denison, 

 Wide Bay District, Dawson River, Richmond and Clarence Rivers 

 Districts, New South Wales, South Coast New Guinea. {Ramsay.) 



Genus TA.NYSIPTEEA, Vigors. 



^ TANYSIPTERA SYLVIA, Gould. 



■White-tailed KingflBher.l 

 Gould, Handhk. Bds. AusL, Vol. i., sp. 68, p. 137. 



Mr. J. A. Thorpe of the Australian Museum, informs me that 

 he found this species breeding plentifully during the months of 

 September and October, in the hills or nests of the White Ants 

 (Termites) situated in the dense scrubs in the neighbourhood of 

 Cape York. It tunnels a hole a few feet from the ground in 

 one of these hills, about fifteen inches in length, and lays four or 

 five pure white eggs near the extremity, where it is hollowed out in 

 the form of a chamber. A set of these eggs are round in form 

 and measures as follows : — length (A) 0-98 x 0-89 inch ; (B) 1 

 X 0-89 inch ; (C) 1 x 0-89 inch ; (D) 0-99 x 0-88 inch ; (E) 1-03 

 X 0-98 inch. 



Hab. Cape York, Rockingham Bay, Port Denison. (^Ramsay.) 



