6 NESTS A\D EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



looking in the dii-ectiou from whence came a sound hke a rushing wind, 

 1 saw high up the hill-side above me a streak in the air, wliich proved to 

 be the male bird from its smaller size. It came straight lor the uest at 

 a terrific rate, shot past the nest, then took a complete circle and settled 

 right iu it, carrying in its claws two small twigs, which the bird immedi- 

 ately di-opped, and hopping on to the side of the nest seemed to be placing 

 them with its beak, all the wliile uttering a half-whistle, half-cackling noise. 

 Tliis I saw repeated several times, hkewise by the other bird, which was 

 also white." 



Mr. Brent again visited the nest on the 4th November, when he took 

 thi-ee eggs with incubation about ten days old. The nest resembled that 

 of A. ajjjjro.cimans, but is a triiie larger. It may be mentioned that the 

 eggs (three) were taken the previous season, about the middle of November, 

 by some local lads, who required a rare reward for them. 



5. — AsTUR NOV* HOLLANDi.^ (sub-species) LEUCOSOMus, Sliarpe. — (1) 

 LESSER WHITE GOSHAWK. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. i., p. iig. 



GeograpJucal JJistribution. — North Queensland, also New Guinea and 

 adjacent islands. 



Nest and Eyys. — Undescribed.* 



Ohstrvatiuns. — The nest and eggs of the Lesser White Goshawk are 

 up to the present imknown to science. It is the only species of 

 Australian Accipitres of which we possess no information with regard 

 to its nidification. But, doubtless, in that as in other respects the Lesser 

 Wliite Goshawk resembles its southern and close alUes, A. cinertus and 

 A. nuvw-lwllandice, by coustnacting the usual stick-made nest, and laying 

 two or three bluish-white eggs meagi'ely marked with brown, if marked 

 at all. 



6. — AsTUR APPROxiMANS, Vigors and Horsfield. — (i7) 

 GOSHAWK. 



Figui'e.— Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. i., pi. 17. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. i., p. 126. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Gould: Birds of Australia (1S4SJ, also 

 Handbook, vol. i , p. 42 (1865) ; Ramsay : Proc. Linn. Sec, 

 N.S, Wales, 2nd ser., vol. i. p. 1141 (1886), Campbell: Proc. 

 Austn. Assoc, vol. vi., p. 420 (1895) 



Geographical Distribution. — Australia in general and Tasmania; r.lso 

 Norfolk Island and New Caledonia. 



* Dr. Sharpe doubts the existence of this sub-species in Australia. Reputed eggs 

 in Mr. G A. Keartland's collection are roundish ovals, somewhat coarse, without 

 gloss; colour, bluish-white ; inside lining, green. Dimensions in inches (i) 172 x i'4, 

 (2) 17 X I 38. I fear the eggs described by Mr. D. Le Souef (Vict. Nat. xvi., p. loi) 

 (judging by their small size (i'52 x iiS inches) cannot be referable to the Lesser White 

 Goshawk. 



