GBALLINA. 79 



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

 Gulf of Carpentaria, Gape York. Rockingham Bay, Port Denison, 

 Wide Bay District, Dawson River, Richmond and Clarence Rivers 

 Districts, New South Wales, Interior, Victoria and South Australia 

 South Coast New Guinea. {Ramsay.) 



Family PRIONOPID^. 



Sub-Family PRIONOPIN^. 

 Genus GEALLINA, Vidllot. 



^•5-* GRALLINA PICATA, Latham. 



Gould, Handbk. Ms. Aust., Vol. i., sp. 102, p. 188. JZ^. /.?, 



The- nest of this species is usually placed upon a bare horizontal 

 branch, but not unfrequently selecting one where a few green 

 twigs and leaves are growing out, which partially hide the structure. 

 The nest is cup-shaped, composed of mud lined inside with grasses, 

 measuring five and a-half inches external diameter, and four in 

 depth, the inside measurements being four and a-half inches 

 across, and two inches in depth. The eggs are three or four in 

 number, and vary considerably in the tint and disposition of their 

 markings, the most usual variety found being of a pinky-white 

 ground colour, spotted and blotched with reddish-brown and light 

 red, with a few obsolete spots of purple and slaty-lilac appearing as 

 if beneath the surface of the shell, the latter colours predominating 

 on the larger end, where in some instances an irregular zone is 

 formed, and the remainder of the surface almost without spots ; in 

 New South Wales this latter variety is the rule. Length (A) 

 M8x0-81 inch; (B) 1-17 x 0-81 inch; (C) M7xO-8 inch; 

 (D) M9 X 0-82 inch. 



This bird breeds during October, November, and December. 



Hob. Port Darwin and Port Essington, Gulf of Carpentaria, 

 Cape York, Rockingham Bay, Port Denison, Wide Bay District, 



