GREY SHRIKE-THRUSH. 
pale greyish-brown, with white shaft-lines. Wing 121 mm. Figured. Collected 
at Bushy Park, Tasmania, in March, 1886. 
Fledglings. “ Have the upper-parts greyish-brown ; the back, scapulars, upper wing- 
coverts, and secondaries distinctly tinged with olive ; upper wing-coverts externally 
edged -with rufous ; feathers round the eye and a superciliary stripe pale rufous ; 
throat, fore-neck and chest dull greyish- white, passing into pure white on the breast 
and abdomen, all the feathers having a broad dusky-brown streak down the centre.” 
(North.) 
Collyriocichla harmonica Lath. Harmonious Thrush. 
Eggs. Three usually form the full setting, and only on rare occasions are more than that 
number met with, four and five eggs being very rare. In shape they vary from 
ovals, to pointed, swollen, and rather rounded ovals. Ground-colour varies from 
pearly-white to pale creamy-white, and from very speckled and spotted specimens 
to beautifully and heavily blotched forms. A typical clutch of three is rather 
swollen oval in shape, ground-colour white, spotted and blotched, particularly 
towards the larger end, with light to dark olive and olive-brown, and pale slate 
markings. Surface of shell, rather fine, smooth and glossy. Clutch measures 
28-30 mm. by 21. 
Nest. Is a large cup-shaped structure, and placed in a variety of situations, frequently the 
upright thick fork of a tree is selected for the purpose, or the hollow portion of a 
tree, then again the top of an old stump is sometimes chosen, or a small bushy 
tree, and instances are recorded where the nest has been well hidden in the centre 
of a thick clump of Mistletoe ( Loranthus ) growing on the forest trees. The nest 
is constructed chiefly of long strips of bark, frequently quite a large quantity being 
used, as well as long wiry roots and grass, and these encircle the nest frequently, 
and make a good thick rim to it. The inside is in most cases lined with a neat 
and well-matted layer of very fine roots or grass. Dimensions across over all, 
6-7 inches ; egg cavity 3 to 3|- inches across ; depth of nest inside, 2 to 2| inches ; 
depth of nest over all, 3 to 5| inches. The nest is sometimes found within four or 
five feet of the ground, and up to a height of forty feet or more. 
The northern form has : — 
Eggs. Two to three for a setting. They vary much in size and also in shape, from ovals, 
rather pointed at one end, to swollen and rather rounded ovals. 
A clutch of three, in shape stout oval ; surface smooth and very glossy ; colour pure 
white, blotched and spotted all over, but more thickly at the larger end, with markings 
of blackish-brown and grey, the former predominating. The clutch measures 
25 mm. by 20. 
Nest. A stout structure, composed of strips of bark and lined with grass-stems, built in 
a cluster of small twigs growing from a tree in forest country, and placed twenty- 
five feet from ground. 
The Tasmanian form has : — 
Eggs. Three usually from the setting. A clutch of three is swollen oval in shape, ground- 
colour white, speckled and spotted with light to very dark olive and olive-brown, 
and round spots of slate scattered rather sparingly. The markings become more 
numerous towards the larger end. Surface of shell rather fine, smooth and glossy. 
The clutch measures 31 mm. by 23. 
Breeding season. August to December. 
VOL. X. 
281 
