c^f] NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



Near the coast and in heavy forest country their nests are solitai-y, 

 but in belts of the more open timber inland the Ravens nest in companies. 

 Such places I had an opportunity of \-isiting in the Pyramid Hill; district 

 of Victoria during October, 1884, The nests were in adjacent box -trees, 

 sometimes several nests in one tree. Tlie majority of the nests were occu- 

 pied with young. Kestrels were using some of the Ravens' old nests. 

 In one instance we took Ravens and Kestrels' eggs from nests situated 

 in the same tree. I am not positive whether the Ravens use their old 

 nests or rebuild fresh ones every season, but from observations I should 

 say they do both, as the case may be. There is a very heavy and nauseous 

 odour about Ravens' nests containing young. 



The Ravens are known to remain on the Werribee Park Estate all the 

 year roimd, Messrs, Keartland and Gabriel have paid several visits, 

 notably on the 9th September, 1893, which are recorded in the "Victorian 

 Naturalist " of that year. Although early in the season, they found 

 sevei-al broods of young nearly all able to fly, and from the evidence 

 before them concluded the eggs had been laid in July. The young had 

 blue eyes. In other nests eggs were foiuid in clutches varying from two 

 (probably vmfinished sets) to five in number. 



On one occasion, when nesting at the Werribee, we found two Ravens' 

 nests in adjacent trees cont-aining each one abnormally small egg in the 

 set of four. We thought it strange there should have been two " arrests 

 of development " so close together, 



I possess two records supplied by friends who have observed a Crow's 

 or Raven's nest built into the dried-up carcass of a sheep. We are aware 

 that these birds particularly relish insects with a strong or pungent odour. 

 Possibly that may account for the strong situation selected by these two 

 birds for a nesting-home. 



The Wliite-face ( Xerophila) has been known to attach its nest to a 

 Raven's nest in use. But the Kestrel and Black Duck, when in need, 

 will use old or desei^ted ones, 



Gould speaks of Crows as appearing singly or in pairs, or occasionally 

 congi-egating in small flocks, 'The opening up of settlement and pastoral 

 pur.suits has e\ddently induced these " black scavengers " to assemble and 

 concentrate their forces in gieater niunbers nowadays. 



On the Yorke Peninsula, S.A., Mr. J. G. McDougall notes that the 

 Ravens lay as early as July 21st. In Tasmania, the late Mr, F, H. Reed 

 found Ravens' nests occasionally containing six eggs. In the same 

 State Mr, A. E, Brent says the nests are usually lined with horse manure, 

 wliich the bird cames and pulls to pieces in the nest. 



In Mr. Hermann Lau's South Queensland notes I find ; — " Crow lays 

 four to five eggs, in a nest better lined than that of a Hawk, mixing fiu- 

 up with horsehair- and other materials. Its nest is rarely found here, 

 and in most cases is inaccessible. The male is very black and possesses 

 white eyes, wlule the female is more sombre in colour, I have frequently 

 seen Crows feeding the yoruig of the Channel Bill or Great Cuckoo 

 (Sci/throjJsj." 



Breeding months July to December, and occasionally autumn. 



Mr. A. W. Milligan, formerly of Ti-aralgon, Gippsland, where he kept 



