CEACTICUS. ffl 



species, differing only in the nest being more compactly made and 

 warmly lined. A set of eggs, three in number, taken near 

 Hobart in September 1885, are of a greenish-grey ground colour, 

 two of the specimens, being blotched and marked as if with a pen 

 with light umber, while appearing as if beneath the surface of the 

 shell are irregular shaped spots of bluish-grey, becoming confluent 

 near the larger end, the other specimen (C) is rounded in form, 

 ground colour light green, thickly covered with blotches of umber 

 brown, and entirely free from the bluish-grey markings which 

 appear in the other specimens. Length (A) 1-5 x 1-1 inch; (B) 

 1-45 X 1;9 inch ; (C) 1-37 x M inch. 



This species commences to breed in September, and continues 

 during the two following months. 



Sab. Tasmania. (JRamgay.) 



Genus CRA.CTICUS, Vicillot. 



-i-t ORACTICUS TORQUATUS, Latham. 



Collared Crow-shnke. 

 Oould, Handhh. Bds. Aust., Vol, i., sp. 99, p. 184. 



I have seen this species in nearly every part of Victoria and 

 New South Wales. It builds an open nest, outwardly composed 

 of fine sticks, lined with roots, and is placed in any suitable tree, 

 according to the locality which it inhabits ; it is usually placed in 

 the top of a gum-sapling or a musk (Olearia argophylla), and 

 when frequenting the edges of creeks and water-courses, it resorts 

 to the Melaleuca. 



The eggs are from three to four in number for a sitting, oval in 

 form, and very variable in their tint and markings. I give the 

 description of, three of the varieties most usually found : 



Var. A. Ground colour light olive-brown with a well defined 

 zone of reddish-brown spots, intermingled with others of bluish- 



