NESTS AND EGGS 01- AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



4^1 



liko a bisected howl, rcmentcrt to the side of a wall of rock, cave, 

 or clifT. or phu'ed in the hollow of an open tree trunk. But since 

 the advent of iivilis;Uion anv convenient niche or corner about the roof 

 of buildings — outside under the eaves or inside on the rafters — is 

 selected for the mud-built home. Underneath bridges and piers also 

 offer secure coverts, while many odd places, such as a mining shaft, 

 inside the roof of an old coach, &c., are occasionally chosen. 

 Dimensions: outside 4 inches wide by 3i inches in depth; inside 2h 

 inches by 1 inch deep. 



^.W'- — Clutch, three to five, but usually four; stnut oval in shape; 

 texture of shell very fine; siu-facc glossv ; colour, wami-white, speckled 

 or numerouslv .spotted, particularlv about the larger end, with umber 

 or reddish-brown and slate. Dimensions in inches of a proper clutch : 

 (1) •76x-54, (2) ■72X-54, (3) -72 x -52, (4) -7 x -54. (Plate 1.5.) 



Ohservnfinnx. — The principal breeding months of this homely little 

 Swallow are from September to the end of the vear. At siich times 

 the birds are more numerous in the southern parts of Australia and 

 Tasmania, moving, of course, to more northern climes on the approach 

 of winter. At Cardwell, which is well within the tropics. Mr. K. 

 Broadbcnt states it is a stationary species, but their numbers must be 

 considerably augmented bv southern birds, that, during the winter 

 months, may be seen in hundreds perched on the fences. However, 

 in manv southern parts they do not always retire northwards, indi- 

 viduals and .small families remaining in their breeding place dui-ing 

 winter. Moreover, Dr. Ramsay has found them building in the 

 Dobroyde stables, near Sydney, both in the months of February and 

 June; and on 17th April. 1864. he took a nest with fresh eggs from 

 the same buildings While Mr. Victor Lemme, writing under date 

 12th June. 1899. states: "I have now imder the verandah of my 

 office, the Junction. St Kildn. a nest of voung Swallows, nearly able 

 to fly.- 



While I write, I remember three birds within the Presbyterian 

 Church, Toorak, during service one raw morning in Jime. which made 

 their sweet little voices resoimd through the sacred edifice. An early 

 July note from Mr. C. C. Brittlebank says: — "Pair of Swallows 

 remained through the winter at Dunbar, near Mymiong (Victoria)." 

 As early as 28th July (1894). at Eehuca. on the Murray, I saw a pair 

 of the pretty Swallows gathering mud for their nest. The wattles then 

 were just bursting into bloom. Therefore both birds and trees heralded 

 the approach of spring, another " New Year," as it were, for the 

 Australian field naturalists. In Tasmania, the soutliem limit of this 

 Swallow. Gould states it arrives about the middle or end of September, 

 and. after rearing at least two broods, departs again nortliward in 

 March. 



In more northern latitudes we have the notes left in MS. by our 

 good observer. Mr. HeiTnann Lau ; — " Welcome Swallow. — One of the 

 first birds to meet me on the shores of Australia on 26th November, 

 1S54, after a long voyage, and always awakens within me. whenever 



