37 
Ocydromus sylvestris, Sclater. The Wood-hen. 
“ Wood-hen” Inhabitants of Lord Howe Island. 
This bird is found breeding in the most rugged and inacces- 
sible portions of the Island, such as the Erskine Valley, 
between Mount Ledgbird and Mount Gower. Here the rough 
character of the country, consisting of huge boulders of granite 
almost hidden in a dense and luxuriant mass of sub-tropical 
vegetation, affords it a secure retreat. The nest in question, was 
found last October at the head of the Erskine Valley, and con- 
sisted merely of a depression in a thick debris of fallen leaves, 
under the shelter of a low bush. The eggs four in number 
vary in shape from ovals to lengthened ovals, being slightly pointed 
at one end, and are of a dull white, with minute dots and large 
irregular shaped markings of light chestnut -red more or less 
scattered over the surface of the shell, obsolete markings of the 
same colour predominating towards the larger end, they are 
not unlike very large specimens of llypotamidia philippensis 
(Rallus pectoralis)^ but the markings are paler and not so well 
defined. Length (A) 1*9 x 1*32 inch; (B) 1*88 x 1*36 inch ; 
(C) 1*95 x 1*3 inch ; (D) 2 inches x 1*32 inch. Mr. Icely 
remarks that this is the first time that any of the present 
inhabitants of the Island have seen the eggs of the Wood-hen, 
or had heard of them being taken.* Plate i., fig. 3. 
NOTES ON THE NIDIFICATION OF HE TE R 0 M Y I AS 
CINEREIFRONS and ORTH ONYX SPALDING I, RAMSAY, 
FROM TILE CAIRNS DISTRICT, NORTH-EASTERN 
QUEENSLAND; and on STERNULA SINENSIS , GMELIN, 
FROM THE TWEED RIVER, NEW SOUTH WALES. 
By A. J. North. 
Heteromyias CINEREIFRONS, Ramsay. Ashy-fronted Flycatcher. 
“ Win-dan.” Aborigines of Cairns District. 
During September and October of 1889, several nests of 
this species were obtained by Messrs. Cairn and Grant, in the 
scrubs of the Herberton tableland, in every instance they were 
found in the “ lawyer vines ” (a species of Calamus ), about four or 
* P.L JL, N JiLV,- 3uil~8e iv , VoL w ) P er „J HH**— 
