THE GEELON& IfATUEALIST. 
7 
eggs respectively, all fresh. The nests were taken on the 17th, 18th 
and 29th October, and were all heavier built than those of the 
other Thickheads I had been accustomed to find. On the lovely 
islets of Kent G-roup during the visit of the Pield Naturalists we 
took nests of this species. One bird — a female — we shot, had a 
crossed bill. It was remarkable how the creature could live and 
enjoy life with such a wry appendage. 
On a subsequent expedition to the Eurneaux Group when 
scrambling down one of the granite peaks of Flinders, we took a 
nest with three eggs in a scrubby nook, being attracted to the 
locality by the sweet voices of the Thickheads. 
With reference to the G-rey-tailed Thickhead, a Tasmanian 
oologist, Mr A. E. Brent, kindly forwarded me the following 
memorandum — " This bird very rarely lays more than three eggs, 
but I have taken two or three nests containing four eggs. On 7th 
October, 1893, I took a nest from a low musk tree in a gully at 
Austin's Ferry, containing four eggs. I also notice that the earliest 
laying birds only, or I should say, rarely lay more than two eggs." 
Mr Gr. K. Hinsby another good field observer, found as a 
rule a pair of eggs was laid during poor seasons. The greater 
number, three, (he never found more,) were taken when food was 
plentiful. 
Breeding months, October to December. 
PACK YCEPH ALA MELANUKA (Gould). 
BLACK-TAILED THICKHEAD. 
Figure.— Gould : Bds. of Aust., fol., Vol. II, pi. 66. 
Eefeeence — Cat. Bds., Brit. Mus., Vol. VIII, p. 185. 
Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — 
Kamsay: P.L.S., KS. W., A' ol. VII, p. 47 (18S2). 
Campbell: "Southern Science Pecord," (1883). 
Geographical Distribution. — Northern Territory, Queens- 
land, also New Guinea, Molaccas, Louisiade Archipelago, New 
Britain and adjacent Islands. 
Nest. — Cup-shaped, shallow, rather scanty structure of fine 
roots and twigs lined with rootlets and grass, through the bottom 
of which the eggs can be seen ; it is about 3 or 4 inches in diameter 
by 1| deep (Kamsay)- 
Eggs. — 2, possibly 3 occasionally; ovals in shape, slightly 
compressed towards one end; texture of shell, fine, with a trace of 
gloss upon the surface; color, light yellowish-white with markings 
mostly about the upper quarter of dark olive or umber, having the 
appearance of spots and smudges struck on obliquely or in a down- 
ward direction ; a few grey markings also appear as if beneath the 
shell's surface. Dimensions of an average of three examples, 
•83 X -63 inches. 
Obseryations. — I am very dubious about the wisdom of Dr. 
GRamsayj after skipping the intermediate localities on his " Tabular 
