THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
pale pinkisli-buff ground-coloui’, spotted -with rounded markings of rusty brown 
purplish-brown and purphsh-grey, the markings being confined chiefly to the 
larger end. Ovals in shape. Sui’face of shell fine and smooth, and sliehtlv slossv 
28-29 by 20 mm. 
Nest. A deep cup-shaped structure and very similar to that of P. corniculatus. 
Breeding -montJis. August to January, or even March. 
This fine species was named by Gould, who wrote: “ For the first 
knowledge of this species of Tropidorhynchus, science is indebted to the late 
Mr. Bynoe, Surgeon of Her Majesty’s Surveying Ship ‘ Beagle,’ who, on my 
visiting Sydney, placed his specimens at my disposal; after my return, other 
examples were sent to me by Sir George Grey. Bynoe’s specimens were all 
obtained during the survey of the north-west coast, a portion of Australia, the 
national productions of which are but little known, and Sir George Grey’s 
dining his expedition into the interior, from the same coast ... Of its 
habits and economy nothing is knoivn; but as it is very nearly allied to the 
other species, we may reasonably conclude that they are very similar.” 
Mr. J. P, Rogers wrote me from Melville Island: “ Nov. 20, 1911. This 
species is the common Friar-Bird of the island and is found both in the forest 
country and the mangroves. On Oct. 20 I found a nest which was built in a 
taU thin sapling. The nest was about 35 feet from the ground and completely 
out of reach as the sapling was too thin to climb. Another nest found on 
Nov. 1 was in a clump of leaves at the end of a horizontal limb about 40 feet 
from the ground and was also not procurable. Jan. 13, 1912. This species 
was very numerous on the north side of the island and is also very numerous 
on the heavily timbered creeks, and is one of the very common birds of this 
island.” 
Capt. White says : “ Met with in several parts of the Northern Territory. 
They are very noisy birds and when camped at Manionboy, N.T., they made 
a great din both morning and evening when they visited some eucalypts 
which where in blossom near our camp. Their fldght is very en’atic, for they 
dive and tivist about in a most remarkable manner.” 
HiU wrote from Kimberley, North-west Austraha: “ In January these 
birds leave the level forest countiy for the sandstone plateau, where the nests 
are fomid in January, February and March. Two eggs are laid. Their food 
consists principally of the fruit of species of fig and other trees.” 
Barnard from Cape York recorded: “ These birds were plentiful in the 
forest country, and a number of their nests were found, mostly containing 
two nestlings. Of three clutches of eggs taken, one numbered three and others 
two each.” 
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