42 AKTAMIDffi. 



The two remaining eggs are similar to those of the southern 

 representative A. azurea, being rounded in form, pearly white, 

 and the texture of the shell fine and very glossy. Length (A) 

 0-87 X 0-73 inch ; (B) 0-85 x 0-74 inch. {From the Aust. Mus. Coll. 

 North, P.L.S., N.S.W., 2nd Series, Vol. iii., pt. i, 1888.) 



Hah. Derby, N.W. Australia, Port Darwin and Port Essington, 

 Gulf of Carpentaria, Cape York. {Ramsay.) 



i-^ 



Family ARTAMID^. 



ARTAMUS SORDIDUS, Latliam. 

 Wood S-wallO"w. 



Gould, Handhk. Bds. Aust, Vol. i., sp. 73, p. 143. XIS . />. 



This bird makes a round, and rather inclined to cup-shaped 

 nest of roots, lined neatly inside with grasses, three and a-half 

 inches across and two inches in depth, outside measurement. I 

 have found it breeding in all parts of Victoria, during Sei{)tember 

 to January, placing its nest in every conceivable position, 

 sometimes in the dead branches of a fallen tree, on the side of 

 the trunk of a tree, held in position by a projecting piece of bark, 

 or occasionally between bare forked limbs. 



Its eggs are three or four in number and are subject to much 

 variation in their markings. 



Var. A. Ground colour dull white, spotted with pale brown, 

 dark brown, and brownish black markings, particularly at the 

 larger end. Average length of specimens 0-87 x 0-66 inch. 

 Taken at Dobroyde, September 19th, 1862 (E.P.R.) 



Var. B. Ground colour almost pure white, with a number of 

 round black spots confined to the larger end where they form a- 

 zone. Average length of set of three 0-95 x 0-67 inch. Taken 

 at Cardington, September 1868, by Mr. James Ramsay. 



Var. C. A most unusally marked set. Ground colour creamy 

 white with large irregular shaped blotches of reddish- and brownish- 

 black. Average size of a set of three, length 0-87 x 0-68 inch. 

 Taken at Hastings, Victoria, November 23rd 1883. (A.J.N.) 



