3-1 



N/iSTS AXD EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



rusty-brown, and a few dull markings of purplish-brown. Most resemble 

 those of the Black-cheeked Falcon, except that the markhigs are redder, 

 and the surface has no lustre. Dimensions of a pair of handsome eggs 

 in Mr. G. A. Keartland's collection, taken in Central AustraUa : 

 (1) 1-97 X 1-49, (2) 1-97 X 1-46; of a set according to Dr. Ramsay: 



(1) 2-18 X 1-55, (2) 2-13 X 1-58, (3) 2-1 x 1-6. 



Ohservations. — I have never been fortunate enough to see, in a state 

 of nature, this bold and audacious Falcon, which has been significantly 

 called by a bush naturalist " Death on the Wing." The Black Falcon 

 is a rare interior species. 



Dr. Ramsay, in describing the eggs, states that he is enabled to do so 

 through the exertions and liberahty of the late Mr. K. H. Bennett; 

 at the same time Dr. Ramsay refers us to Mr. Bennetts own most 

 interesting and exhaustive account of the habits of this Falcon, the 

 reference to which is given above. 



We infer from the authorities above quoted that the breeding season 

 usually includes September and October, and, in the far interior, December 

 to February. 



25. — F.\LCo LUNULATuSj Latham. — (10) 

 LITTLE FALCON. 



Figure. — Gould; Birds of Australia, fol., vol. i , pi lo. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. i,, p, 39S. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Gould : Birds of Australia (1848), also 

 Handbook, vol. i,, p. 30 (1865); North: Austn. Mus. Cat., p. 19 

 (i88g); Campbell: Proc. .'^ustn. Assoc, vol. vi., p. 439 (1895). 



Gtayrayhicn] Dixtrilnitiitn. — Whole of Australia and Tasmania; also 

 Flores. 



Nei<t. — Large for the size of the bird, being usually an old stick-built 

 home of another Hawk, Crow, lic, which the Falcon lines again with 

 green branchlets of eucalypts. 



J^i.lO"- — Clutch, two or three; round oval or oval in shape; textm^e of 

 shell fine, but lustreless ; ground-colour, buff or biifiy-white, wliich is 

 nearly obscured by the freckled and mottled markings of light reddish- 

 brown or rufous. Dimensions of a clutch in inches: (1) 17 x 1-24, 



(2) 1-58 X 1-26. (Plate 4.) 



Ohxervations. — The Little or the White-fronted Falcon is the smallest 

 and probably the most freqiiently seen of our Australian Falcons, being 

 found throughout the Continent, as well as Tasmania. It is a bold little 

 bird about 12 inches long, wearing a dark-grey coat, under surface 

 reddish-brown, except the throat and chin, which are incUned to white, 

 hence sometimes the name " Wliite-fronted." It loves such wild rocky 

 situations as the Werribee Gorge, Victoria, where it has been foiuid 

 bi'eeding by the Messrs. Brittlebank. My experiences with this fine 

 little fellow have been in Queensland. One afternoon, near the edge of 



