GYMNOBHINA. 59 



blotches over the whole surface, but run together so as to form 

 one large .patch on the thicker end. Length 19 lines; breadth 

 13 lines. This variety is usually seen in a very long egg. 



Var. D. Ground colour bright light green or sky-blue when 

 first taken, but fading when kept, having irregular markings of 

 light wood-brown very sparingly dispersed over the whole surface. 

 Length 18 lines breadth 14 lines. 



Var. E. Ground colour very pale sky-blue with distinct oval 

 spots of reddish-brown and obsolete spots of lilac. In some 

 specimens the spots are of a dark deep lilac, having a penumbra. 

 Length from 18 to 20 lines ; breadth from 13 to 15 lines. 



Var. F. The ground colour a uniform dull dark brown, with 

 numerous minijte dots and spots of a deeper hue over the whole 

 surface. Length 20 lines ; breadth 1 3 lines. 



Var. G. Ground colour brownish-white, with spots and dashes 

 of wood-brown tinged with lilac, and obsolete lilac spots at the 

 larger end. Length 17 lines ; breadth 14 lines. 



The nest of the Piping Crow-shrike is a large open structure 

 composed of sticks and twigs, lined with grass and hair. It is 

 usually placed in the fork of a tree, or among the bushy boughs 

 of a species of Anyophora. The eggs are usually three, but 

 sometimes four in number. They breed during the months of 

 August, September, and October." (Ramsay, Ibis, 1865, Vol. i., 

 New Series, p. 300.) 



H.ah. Rockingham Bay, Port Denison, Wide Bay District, 

 Dawson River, Richmond and Clarence Rivers Districts, New 

 South Wales, Interior, Victoria and South Australia. {Bamsay.') 



^ 3 GYMNORHINA LEUCONOTA, Gray. 



White-backed Crow-shrike. 



Qould, Randhk. Bds. Aust., Vol. i., sp. 93, p. 176. 



This is a very common species in certain districts in Victoria, 

 South Austrailia and New South Wales. I have found it breeding 



