350 SPHENISCIDiE. 



while a few were nearly ready to take to the water, it was worthy 

 of note that the burrows close to the edge of the cliflfs contained 

 either young birds or eggs nearly incubated, while those that were 

 about one hundred and fifty yards from the water all contained 

 fresh eggs. These tunnels were about three feet in length, and 

 the entrance in most cases was hidden by a bush, the parent bird 

 in every instance ably defending ' her eggs or young ones, and 

 inflicting a smart blow with the bill, on the hand of the intruder. 

 Should these birds be taken out of their burrows they return to 

 them again at once seldom trying to make their escape. Eggs 

 sometimes three in number for a sitting, but usually only two ; 

 in form swollen ovals, rather sharply pointed at the smaller apex, 

 when fresh they are of a pale bluish-white, and the shell semi- 

 transparent, but when partly incubated the egg becomes soiled and 

 is of a dull lead-white colour. 



Dimensions of two sets are as follows : — length (A) 2-3 x 1 "7 

 inches; (B) 2-32 x 1-71 inches; (0) 2-27 x 1-72 inches; (D) 2-12 

 X 1-66 inches; (E) 2-15 x 1-67 inches; (F) 2-17 x 1-68 inches. 



They breed during September and the three following months. 



Hab. Richmond and Clarence Rivers Districts, New South 

 Wales, Victoria and South Australia, Tasmania, West and South- 

 West Australia. (JRamsay ) 



EUDYPTULA UNDINA, Gould. 

 Fairy Penguin.. 

 Gould, Handhh. Bds. Aust, Yol. ii., sp. 670, p. 512. 



This bird is found on the Tasmanian coast and on the islands 

 adjacent thereto. It closely resembles in every respect the 

 preceding species, E. minor, but is slightly smaller ; the number 

 and colour of the eggs are similar. A set taken at Anderson's 

 Bay on the north-west coast of Tasmania, measures as follows : — 

 length (A) 2-08 x 1-63 inches ; (B) 2-05 x 1-63 inches; (C) 2-06 

 X 1-65 inches. Taken during the month of October 1882, 



Eah. Tasmania and adjacent islands, 



