128 TIMELnNJE. 



fine grasses, thistle down, and cobwebs, or the flowering portions 

 of grasses all matted closely and thickly together, and having the 

 adjacent leaves of the plant in which it is placed neatly sewed on 

 to the side of the nest ; sometimes two or three broad leaves are 

 sewed together with cobweb, and the nest made between them. 

 The nest is always placed near the ground where the grass growing 

 through some broad-leaved plant affords it concealment, and is 

 about two inches wide by 1 -5 inch deep. The eggs in nearly every 

 instance are three in number, but sometimes four are found. The 

 ground colour is of a delicate pale blue, dotted, spotted, or blotched 

 with brownish-red of various tints and shades. Their length is 

 from 0-5 to 0*65 inch, by from 0-4 to 0'5 inch in breadth. They 

 breed during October and the two following months." (^Ramsay, 

 Ibis, 1868, Vol. iv.. New Series, p. 277.) 



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

 Gulf of Carpentaria, Cape York, Rockingham Bay, Port Denison, 

 Wide Bay District, Dawson River, Richmond and* Clarence 

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

 South Coast New Guinea. {Ramsay.) 



Genus PYCNOPTILUS, Gould. 



2 PYCNOPTILUS PLOCCOSUS, Gould. 



Do-wny Pycnoptilus. 

 Gould, Handbk. Eds. Aust. Vol. i., sp. 207, p. 348. .Z3r. g. 



" This species has hitherto been considered a scarce bird in 

 New South Wales, prior to which it had only been recorded from 

 our more southern provinces. Our taxidermist, Mr. J. A. Thorpe 

 procured some beautiful specimens in the flesh at Cambewarra, 

 about 100 miles south of Port Jackson ; and Mr. Yardley of that 

 district has forwarded quite recently the nest and eggs taken by 

 Mr. Sinclair, a timber-getter working in the adjacent scrubs. The 

 nest, T am informed, was placed on or very near the ground among 

 some d6bris on a bank or slope ; it is a rather loose structure, 

 built of shreds of bark chiefly, and lined with feathers of various 



