SUPPLEMENT TO NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTR. BIRDS — NORTH. 15 
adult male specimen, was procured. This species evinces a 
preference for the country lying between Normanton on the Gulf 
of Carpentaria, and Townsville on the North-eastern coast of 
Queensland, on the grassy plains of which they are occasionally 
captured and sent to the southern markets. Like all the members 
of the Ploceidce family it constructs a large dome shaped nest of 
dried grasses, which is usually placed in a low bush or tuft of 
long grass. The eggs are five in number for a sitting, true ovals 
in form and pure white ; two specimens received from Dr. Henry 
Sinclair last season measure (A) 0-6 x 0*47 inch ; (B) 06 x 0*45 
inch. 
Ptilotis frenata, Ramsay. Bridled Honey-eater, 
Ramsay , Proc. Zool. Soc ., 1874, p. 603. 
This species, one of the latest additions to the known Meliphagiace , 
is found in the thickly timbered coastal ranges lying between Cairns 
and Cardwell in North-eastern Queensland. A nest of this bird 
obtained by Mr. W. S. Day at Cairns on the 28th of November, 
1891, and from which the parents were procured, was placed in 
a mass of creepers growing over a small shrub, at a height of 
about three feet from the ground ; it contained two eggs partially 
incubated. The nest in question is built of stronger materials 
than is generally used by members of this genus, and was likewise 
unattached by the rim ; the eggs too are unlike those of typical 
specimens of the Ptilotes , approaching nearer in colour and 
disposition of their markings those of some members of the 
Artamidce. The nest is cup-shaped, and outwardly composed of 
long pliant stems of a climbing plant and portions of the soft 
reddish-brown stems of a small fern ; inside it is neatly lined 
with a white wiry looking vegetable fibre, forming a strong 
contrast to the reddish-brown hue of the exterior ; it measures 
4*25 inches in diameter by 2*6 inches in height, internal diameter 
2*5 inches x 1*6 inch in height. The eggs are oval in form, 
tapering gently to the smaller end, and are white with minute 
dots and rounded markings of purplish-black and purplish-grey, 
the latter colour appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell, 
as usual the markings predominate on the thicker end where in 
places they become confluent and form an irregular zone ; with 
the exception of these zones, the markings on one of the specimens 
are larger and more sparingly dispersed, in the other they are 
uniformly distributed over the greater portion of the surface of 
the shell. Length (A) 0*93 x 0*65 inch ; (B) 0*95 x 0*65 inch. 
Orthonyx spinicaudus, Temminck. Spine-tailed Orthonyx. 
Gould , Handbk. Bds. Auslr ., Yol. i., sp. 372, p. 607. 
The nest of the Spine-tailed Orthonyx is dome-shaped and large 
for the size of the bird, and resembles somewhat that of the Lyre- 
