38 



A'£STS A. YD EGGS 01- AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



the throat and chest of a paler shade or buS. Bill aud legs are bliiish 

 or lead-colovu', and no specimens arc more common in collections than its 

 rusty-brown eggs. 



The eggs in my cabinet are from two nests, of which I witnessed the 

 taking. One was found near Bagshot, Victoria, on the 4th October, 

 1880; the other in Queensland, 13th October, 1885. There was only 

 a pair of eggs in each instance, which, however, were perfectly fresh, and 

 may not have been the full complement. When one is on official leave 

 of absence it is not always convenient to wait the development of full 

 clutches, however desii'able in the interests of knowledge. Then there is 

 the old adage that " a bird (and I suppose an egg, for the gi-eater includes 

 the less) in the hand is worth two in the bush.' 



Mr. H. C. Burldtt, formerly of Cooper's Ci'eek. kindly sent me a pair 

 of Brown Hawk's eggs from a set of four which he states he took from 

 a nest built on a needle iHuktu) bush. 



The Brown Hawk, instead of building for itself, frequently uses 

 the old nest of such birds as a Kite or other Hawk, or Raven. 

 It is said that the Brown Hawk will at times lay in hollow trees in the 

 great North-western interior of Queensland. 



On one occasion, when Mr. G-. E. Shepherd, Somerville, was climbing 

 to a Brown Hawk's nest, one of the birds appeared overhead having a 

 copper-headed snake, about two feet long, writhing in its talons. 

 Fortunatelv the Hawk did not drop the reptile on the cUmber, or he might 

 have di'opped too. 



Breeding months include August to November, the principal being 

 September and October, and sometunes in Nortliern Queensland from 

 Christmas to the end of February. 



Concerning this common Hawk, one of Mr. Keartland's interesting 

 North-west notes reads : — '' These birds were found in great numbers in 

 the eaiiy aud latter parts of oiu- joiuuey, but veiy few were seen in the 

 desert-. In August several nests containing 3'oung were found, and our 

 party were interested in watcliing the assiduity with wliich the old bii'ds 

 carried out their paternal duty. From before daybreak imtil long after 

 dark at night their cries might be heard as they flew over our camp, 

 carr\'ing lizards, &c., to theii' clamoimng broods. Neai- the Fitzroy River 

 they were fomid building their nests m IMarch. " 



Young in down are rufous-coloured. 



28- — Cerchneis CENCHROiDES, Vigors and Horsfield. — (13) 

 NANKEEN KESTREL. 



Figure. — Gould: Birds of Australia, fol., vol. i, pi. 13. 



Reference. ^Cs.i- Birds Brit. Mus,, vol. i., p. 431. 



Previous Descriftioiis of Eggs. — Gould : Birds of Australia, Handbook, 

 vol. i., p. 36 (1865) ; North : Austn. Mus. Cat., p. 22, pi. 3, fig. 5 

 (1889) ; Campbell : Proc. Austn. Assoc, vol. vi., p. 442 (1895). 



Geographical Distrihufinn. — Australia generally and Tasmania. 



