/EGIALITIS. 
305 
have met with it high up on the Bogan and Bell Rivers, and on 
the Murrumbidgee River, near Yass ; it gives preference to the 
margins of inland lakes and lagoons rather than the sea-coast. 
Mr. J. S. Ramsay, a most persevering and successful oologist, 
found it breeding during the months of October, November, and 
December on the margins of the Bell River, at Cardington. There 
was always a difficulty in discovering the eggs, from their similarity 
to the adjacent ground on which they were laid, it being necessary 
to watch the birds to their eggs. Mr. James Ramsay of Nanama, 
near Yass, has also sent me authentic eggs of this species, taken 
in that district, wliile others which I have received from Melbourne’ 
and South Australia, all exhibit a similar style and colour in their 
markings. The eggs are two or three in number for a sitting, 
and are usually placed with the thinner ends together, in a slight 
depression in the sand or pebbles near water ; the ground colour 
is of a rich creamy-white when fresh, nearly obscured by numerous 
irregular angular markings and hair-lines of blackish-brown, dark 
brown, and bluish slate-colour, the last appearing as if beneath 
the surface of the shell. In some specimens these markings are 
close together, giving a clouded appearance to the eggs, in others, 
about equally dispersed over the whole surface. In some light 
varieties they are less numerous at the thinner end ; and these 
specimens are slightly smaller in size. Length 1 ’05 x 0 - 8 inch ; 
the darker and most usual variety IT inch in length by 0'85inch 
in breadth.” (Ramsay, P.Z.S., 1877, p. 336.) 
I have frequently taken the eggs of this species in the Albert 
Park, near Melbourne, and have received them from nearly every 
portion of Australia. 
A set taken by Mr. James Ramsay, at Nanama, measures as 
follows : — length (A) 1-08 x 0 - 83 inch ; (B) 1T2 x 0-85 inch. 
Two eggs taken by the late Mr. T. H. Boyer-Bower, at Derby, 
North-western Australia, in 1886, give the following measurements 
Length (A) 1-06 x 0’81 inch; (B) 1-03 x 0‘78 inch. 
Hob. Derby, North-West Australia, Rockingham Bay, Port 
Denison, Wide Bay District, Dawson River, Richmond and Clarence 
T 
