PAEKA. 
327 
inch; (0) l - 94 x T33 inch; (D) 1 -83 x 1*36 inch ; (E)l-97xl-36 
inch; (F) 1 -95 x 1'33 inch ; (G) 1'9 x 1-35 inch. Specimens in 
my own collection give the same average measurements. 
Hal. Derby, N.W. Australia, Gulf of Carpentaria, Cape York, 
Rockingham Bay, Port Denison, Wide Bay District, Richmond 
and Clarence River District, Now South Wales, Interior, Victoria 
and South Australia, Tasmania, West and South-West Australia. 
(Ramsay.') 
Genus PARRA, Latham. 
PARRA GALLINACEA, Temminck. 
Comb-crested Parra. 
Gould, Handblc. Bds. Aust., Vol. ii., sp. 569, p. 330. 
“ The eggs of this species are among the most beautiful of any 
laid by our Australian birds. The curious labyrinthine markings 
which characterize them, however, are not altogether confined to 
the eggs of the Parra; as those of at least three of our species of 
Ponialostomus are beautifully veined and marbled in the most 
delicate manner.” . . . “They vary in form, being quite ovaljind 
pointed equally at both ends, to almost round, or pyriform as in some 
of the Plovers. When of this last shape, they are usually placed in 
the nest with their small ends pointing inwards. In length they are 
from 13*5 lines to 14 - 5 lines, and in breadth from 10 to 11 lines. 
The ground colour is a light olive-yellow, becoming with time much 
darker. The whole surface is crossed and recrossed with irregularly 
curved and rather broad black lines, turning and twisting in every 
direction, and, in some examples, with shorter lines, making 
various ill-sliapen letters or figures, while in others these markings 
take the form of blotches. Appearing beneath the shell are deep 
yellowish-brown streaks and hair-lines recrossing those on the 
surface. Some specimens are more numerously streaked than 
others, and have the broader black linos predominating ; in others 
the fine hair-lines and those of yellowish-brown are more visible. 
