68, PACHYCBPHALINJE. 



are evenly distributed over the whole surface, while appearing 

 as if beneath the surface of the shell, are spots of lilac and bluish- 

 grey ; in (a) and (b) they intermingle and form a zone. Length 

 (A) 0-95 X 0-72 iAoh ; (B) 0-91 x Owl inch ; (C) 0-93 x 0-72 inch. 



The breeding season commences from the beginning of September 

 and lasts till the end of December. 



Hal. New South Wales, Interior, Victoria and South Australia, 

 West and South-West Australia. {Ramsay.) 



^ PACHYCEPHALA OLIVACEA, Vigors and Eorsfield. 

 Olivaceous Thickhead. 

 Gould, Handhh. Ms. Aust, Vol. i., sp. 122, p. 218. ^EZr //. 



For the first eggs of this species, I am indebted to my friend 

 Mr. Charles Mayo, of Childers, South Gippsland, who obtained 

 them during October 1878. The nest, he informs me, wate built 

 in a mountain musk (Olearia argophylla), and was similar to that 

 of P. gutturalis, (which is common in that district) but larger and 

 more compactly built. The egg is pointed at both ends, swelling 

 heavily near the centre, the ground colour being bufiy-white, 

 marked all over, but particularly on its thicker end with dots 

 and spots, of reddish and blackish-brown, intermingled with a few 

 here and there of umber, while appearing as if beneath the surface 

 of the shell are larger spots and blotches of dark lilac, which in 

 some places are confluent, and form an irregular zone. Length 

 1-07 inchx 1-78 inch. 



A pair taken in the New England district, (N.S.W.) have the 

 markings more evenly dispersed over the surface, and measure as 

 follows :— (A) 1-08 inch x 1-76 inch; (B) 1-09 inch x 1-77 inch. 



^ ' o 



Two eggs are the usual number for a sitting, and the breeding 

 season commences in September and lasts throughout the three 

 following months. 



Hah. New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, Tasmania 

 (Bamsay.) 



