APPENDIX. 409 



PACHYCEPHALA XANTHROPROCTA, Gould. 

 Gould, Proa. Zool. Sac, 1837, p. U9. 



The nest of the Norfolk Island Thickhead closely resembles 

 that of the well known P. guUuralis of Australia. Dr. Metcalfe 

 informs me it is an open cup-shaped structure composed entirely of 

 twigs, and lined inside with dried grasses, and is usually placed 

 in lemon, and other low trees, and that the eggs are three or 

 four in number for a sitting. Of two eggs forwarded by Dr. 

 Metcalfe, one is an elongated oval, of a rich creamy-white ground 

 colour, with spots, freckles and dots of dark umber-brown, and 

 nearly obsolete markings, of sepia on the thicker end, becoming 

 confluent and forming a broken zone. Length 1-05 x 0'72 

 inch. The other specimen is oval and nearly equal in size at both 

 ends, the ground colour being of a darker shade than in the 

 previous specimen, with rich umber-brown spots, freckles and dots, 

 and spots of bluish-grey on the larger end appearing as if beneath 

 the surface of the shell, forming an irregular shaped cap or patch. 

 Length 1 x 0'75 inch. These eggs could not be distinguished 

 from some of the varieties of P. gutturalis. September 

 and the two following months constitute the breeding season of 

 this species. 



RHIPIDURA PELZELNI, G. R. Gray. 

 Pelzeln's Fantail. 

 G. B. Gray, Ibis, 1862, p. 226. 



The nidification of Pelzeln's Flycatcher is similar to that of 

 other members of the genus Bhipidura, found in Australia and 

 elsewhere. Dr. Metcalfe informs me the nest is a small, round, 

 deeply cup-shaped structure, outwardly composed of mosses, 

 fibrous roots and cobwebs, lined inside with finer grasses and a 

 few feathers, and is usually placed on the branch of a low tree. 

 Eggs three or four in number for a sitting, oval in form, white, 

 with dull coloured light brown markings, and several blotches 

 and spots of pale bluish-grey on the thicker end, appearing as if 



