SPHENOSTOMA. 71 



great deal in the disposition of their markings. I give the 

 description of several sets now before me : — 



Var. A. Ground colour faint bluish-white, minutely spotted 

 with black, together with larger round markings of the same 

 colour evenly distributed over the whole surface. Length (A) 

 1 -1 X 0-8 inch ; (B; 1 x 0-8 inch. Taken October 1883, at Kewell, 

 Victoria. 



Var. B. Ground colour bluish-white, spotted and blotched with 

 irregular shaped black markings, some of them resembling in form 

 ill-shapen figures, crescents, &c. Length (A) 1-05 x 0'87 inch ; 

 (B) I'l X 0-88 inch. Taken by Mr. James Ramsay, at Tyndarie, 

 October 1880. 



Var. C. Ground colour deep bluish-white, with remarkably 

 heavy black blotches, uniformly dispersed over the surface, 

 resembling in shape, but not so thickly disposed, as those on Rhynchcea 

 australis. Length (A) 1-12 x 0-82 inch; (B) 1-09 x 079 inch. 

 Taken by Mr. K. H. Bennett, September 1886. 



The breeding season of this species is usually the months of 

 September, October, and November, but Mr. Bennett found several 

 nests of this species, amongst others, containing fresh eggs, on 

 March 19th, 1887, at Ivanhoe, New South Wales. 



Hab. Derby, N.W.A., Gulf of Carpentaria, Rockingham Bay, 

 Port Denison, Wide Bay District, Dawson River, Richmond and 

 Clarence Rivers Districts, New South Wales, Interior, Victoria 

 and South Australia. (Ramsay.) 



Genus SPHENOSTOMA, Goidd. 



? SPHENOSTOMA CRISTATA, Gould. 



Crested Wedge-bill. 

 Gould, Eandbk. Bds. Aust., Vol. i., sp. 184, p. 316. :^ <^ 



The habitat of this species is the Interior of Australia. For the 

 eggs of this bird I am indebted to my highly esteemed and deeply 

 regretted friend, the late Mr. W. Liscombe, who obtained them at 



