AA 
: THE GEELONG NATURALIST. 
embrace the present opportunity of stating my reasons for so doing, 
and of pointing out the differences between these two species. 
“While lately examining a large series of Pachycephale from 
various parts of Australia, my attention was drawn by Mr Masters 
to the deep rufous tint on the under-surface of the females of the 
Western examples of the so-called P. gutturalis; and after 
comparing a very large number of specimens from both N.S. Wales 
and Western Australia, I have come to the conclusion that although 
closely allied, they are specifically distinct. Mr Gould's description 
and the plate of the P. gutturalis in his work have evidently been 
taken from Western examples, from which the Turdus gutturalis of 
Latham may be easily distinguished.” 
The nest and eggs of the Western Thickhead above described 
I took at Karridale (W.A.,) 28th October, 1889. The structure was 
securely placed amongst the curious seed pods of a Hakea branch. 
The chief breeding months are September, October, November. 
PACHYCEPHALA GLAUCURA. (Gould.) 
GREY-TAILED THICKHEAD. 
Frounr.--Gould: Bds. of Aust., fol., Vol. II, pl. 65. 
RzrrRENCE.—Cat. Bds., Brit. Mus., Vol. VIII, p. 194. 
Previous DESCRIPTION or EaGs.— 
Campbell; * Southern Science Record,” (1882). 
North: Cat. Nests and Eggs, Aust. Bds., p. 66 (1889). 
GEOGRAPHICAL Disrrrurion.—Tasmania and some of the 
Islands in Bass Straits. 
Nest.— Larger and more bulky than those of the other Yellow- 
breasted Thickheads, composed of smalltwigs, sometimes strips of bark 
with dead leaves (some skeleton) and Casuarina needles added, lined. 
inside with fine dry grass, rootlets, &c., and placed in a bush or low 
tree in thick scrub. Dimensions, over all 5 or 6 inches by 3 inchesin 
depth. Egg cavity 2$ inches across by 13 inches deep. 
Eacs.— Clutch, 2-3, occasionally 4. Inclined to oval in shape, 
diminishing in a pretty curvefrom the upper quartertothe apex which 
is, in someinstances, sharperthan the bottom end oftheegg; texture of 
shell, fine, with surface slightly glossy; color, light greyish, or 
light yellowish-white of a darker tone round the upper quarter 
where is freckled a zone of small spots of umber and dull slate, the 
latter color as usual appearing as if beneath the surface of the 
shell. Dimensions in inches of two proper clutches.  4.—(1) 
1:02 x °7; (2) 101 x ‘78. s.—(1) 95 x 69; (2) 93 x 71. 
OBSERYATIONS.—I have enjoyed many excursions into the 
secluded domains—some of them exceedingly romantic—of the 
Grey-tailed Thickhead of Tasmania and some of the intermediate 
islands in Bass Straits. It is extremely probable this variety has 
or may be found on the mainland opposite. 
During my brief sojourn in Tasmania, 1888, I was fortunate in 
finding three nests of this species; the clutches were 8, 2 and 2 
