6 THE GEELONG NATURALIST. 
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. —Throughout Australia and 
Tasmania (accidental.) 
NzsT.—Bowl-shaped, built of mud, usually black, but varies in 
shade according to locality where gathered ; lined inside sparingly 
with grass and a few feathers, and usually situated on a bare 
horizontal limb. of a tree in the vicinity of water, overhanging a 
stream, or standing in a lagoon. 
Dimensions over all, 53 by 43 inches, 5 inches in depth. Egg; 
cavity, 44 inches across by 2% inches deep. 
Eaas.—Olutch, 3-4, occasionally 5; usual shape, pyriform ; tex- 
ture of shell, fine, and surface glossy ; color, pearly white, spotted 
about the apex with dark purplish-red and light purple, but 
generally the ground colouris pinkish, ranging in tone from light 
pink or pinkish-white to rich buffy-red, with markings of pinkish- 
red and purple, confluent and forming a belt around the upper 
uarter; in some examples the markings are more blotched, and 
distributed over the whole surface. Dimensions in inches of two 
proper clutehes—A—(1) L14 x 8; (2) 111 x 82; (8) 110 x :8; 
(4) L1x:81. n—(1) L08 x:82; (2) L'O8x:8; (3) 16x81; 
(4) L05 x 78; (5) 1:03 x 78. 
OBSERVATIONS.~-It is well that this interesting and most useful 
of insectivorous birds is a cosmopolitan as far as Australia is con- 
cerned. Almost in any locality where fresh water is found, from 
north to south or from east to west, the familiar pied plumaged 
figures of the Grallina may be seen, or its plaintive call heard. 
However, the bird is only accidental to Tasmania. Gould was of 
opinion the Grallina was only a partial migrant to Northern Aus- 
tralia, or was not stationary there, departing during the rainy 
season—that is, the summer. It would be well if this statement: 
were verified. 
The hard mud-constructed nests of the Magpie Lark or Grallina 
always attract attention, so conspicuous do they appear, cemented 
on to a naked limb. Sometimes several are seen in the same tree, 
being the homes of succesive seasons, for it takes many winters’ 
rains to totally denude a Grallina's nest. These old homes are 
also attractive to other birds, such as the White-rumped Wood 
Swallow (Artamus leucopygialis) and Varied Cuckoo-Shrike. 
(Graucalus mentalis) the former invariably, the latter occa- 
sionally constructing their own nests within the roomy and secure 
one of the Magpie Lark. If a clutch of eggs be removed the 
Magpie Lark will lay again in the same nest, but a new nest is 
built every year, if not for every brood, of which there are two or 
more a season. 
I recorded, 8th November, 1894, in the Proceedings of the Royal 
Society of Victoria, the occurrence of the egg of the Pallid Cuckoo 
(©. pallidus) in the nest of the Grallina. The nest was taken at 
