86 
MUSCICAPIDiE. 
but more particularly towards the larger end. Length (A) O'Gl 
x 0-47 inch ; (B) 0-6 x 0-47 inch.” (North, P.L.S., A.,S'. IF., Vol. 
ii., 2nd Series, p. 406.) 
I lab. Tasmania. ( Ramsay.) 
RHIPIDURA PREISSI, Cabanis. 
Preiss’s Fantail. 
Gould , llandbk. Dds. Aust., Vol. i., sp. 135, p. 240. 
When collecting in North-western Australia, Mr. W. Proggatt 
found a nest of this species built in a climbing plant growing on 
the banks of the Eitzroy River, about twenty-five miles inland 
from Derby, on the 25th September, 1887 ; it is very likely that 
of its near ally R. albiscapa, of the eastern and southern portions 
of the continent, but much smaller, resembling in shape a miniature 
wine glass with the base broken off. The nest is composed of 
shreds of thin fibrous bark and fine grasses, held together on the 
outside with spiders’ webs, which are neatly wound round the 
exterior surface of the nest, also the thin branch on which it is 
placed, the stem of the nest having a somewhat ragged appearance 
at the extremity. Exterior diameter 17 inch, depth 1-67 inch, 
length of stem from the bottom of the nest proper and branch on 
which it is placed 2 - 25 inches. Interior diameter P58 inch, depth 
1-2 inch. The rim of the nest is very thin. Eggs two in number 
for a sitting, of a creamy-white ground colour, spotted and blotched 
with dull wood-brown, intermingled with obsolete markings of 
slaty-grey which are more thickly disposed towards the larger end 
where an ill-defined zone is formed. Length (A) 0-6 x 0-48 inch; 
(B) 0-63 x 0 - 5 inch. From the Macleyan Museum Collection. 
(Nwlli, Proc. Linn. Soc., JV.S. IF, Vol. iii., 2nd Series, part ii., 
April, 1888.) 
Hah. Derby, N.W. Australia, West and South-west Australia. 
(Ramsay.) 
