NESTS A.VD EOGS OF AVSTKALIAN BIRDS. ji 



22. — Falco melanogenys, Gould. — (8) 

 BLACK-CHEEKED FALCON. 



Figuri ' GoukI : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. i.. pi. S. 



Re/rrtiue. -Cat. Birds. Brit. Mus., vol. i , p. 385. 



Previous Desctif-tious 0/ Eggs. — Gould: Birds of Australia (1848), also 

 Handbook, vol. i., p. 27 (1865) ; Xorth : Austn. Mus Cat , p. 16, 

 pi. 3, fig. 4 (1889): also Records Austn. Mus., vol. ii , p 13 

 (1892); Campbell: Proc. Austn. Assoc, vol. vi , p. 437(1895); 

 Le Souef : Ibis, p. 422 (1895). 



Geographical Distribution. — Australia in general, and Tasmania; also 

 Moluccas and Java. 



Nest. — Usually a crevice or ledge on an inaccessible cliff on the sea- 

 coast, sometimes on pci-pendicular rocks inland; a hollow spout of 

 a tree, or even a deserted stick nest of a larger bird is also appropriated. 

 Instances have been known of a covert of tussock-grass being chosen on 

 the plains. 



Eggs. — Clutch, three ; round oval in shape ; te.xture of shell 

 somewhat fine ; surface slightly glossy ; ground-colour buff, which 

 is scarcely perceptible, being obscured by the freckles and other 

 small markings of pinkish-red, in some examples with iiifous-brown. 

 Upon these markings, again, sparingly distributed, are large markings 

 or blotches of dark-red or brown, which seem peculiar to the eggs 

 of this Falcon. Pinkish-red specimens may ajjpear in the same 



set with a rufous-brown one. As in all Falcons' eggs, the inside lining 

 of the shell, when held up to transmitted light, is a buffy-colour. 

 Dimensions in inches of a proper chitch : (1) 2-05 x 1-59, (2) 2-03 x 1-56, 

 (3) 2-02 X 1-59. (Plate 4) This description is taken from a veiy beauti- 

 ful clutch presented to me by my young friend, llr. Charles French, junr. 

 Its history is mentioned further on. 



Observations. — This fiue, bold, and dashing Falcon is a widel}' distri- 

 buted species frequenting, in pau's, wild rocky regions of the coast or cliffy 

 localities inland suitable to the bird's nature. It is really a splendid 

 creature, with head, cheeks, and back of neck dark-brown, almost black; 

 the back and wings are grey, beautifully mottled or dappled with blackish- 

 brown ; the underneath parts arc delicate fawn-coloui% crossed by iiTegular 

 bars of dark-brown ; while in common with all our iiustralian Falcons 

 it may be remembered that the cere and legs are nearly always yellowish ; 

 bill and feet of a somewhat bluish lead-colour, and keen dark-brown eyes. 

 The size of the Black-cheeked species is about 15 inches; wing, IH inches; 

 tail, 5| inches. 



In wi-iting to nic in 1886, Mr. E. D. Atkinson mentions he foimd 

 in an almost inaccessible position three eggs of this Falcon, far incubated, 

 on the top of a cliff (not on the face) on an island off the north-west coast 

 of Tasmania. Tlie date was 8th of October. 



In the Australian Museimi Catalogue, and quoting valuable corres- 

 pondents, Mr. North furnishes some extremely intere.sting notes regarding 



