(5!0 A^ESTS AMD EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



For further interesting notes of the nesting of the Leach, or 

 Gloss}' Cockatoo, T am indebted to the late Mr. George Bai-nard, of 

 Coomooboolaroo, Queensland, who at the time (June, 1891) informed 

 me that his sons had found the previous month no less than four 

 Black Cockatoos' nests, each with a single fresh egg. Two were 

 the Glossy Cockatoo, the others the Funereal species. The nests of 

 the former were from seventy to nmety feet from the ground, and the 

 eggs could almost be reached from the entrance. 



This interesting Black Cockatoo would therefore appear to be an 

 autumn and winter breeder. 



479.-^Callocephalon galeatum, Latham. — (405) 

 GANG-GANG COCKATOO. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. v., pi. 14. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xx., p. 113. 



Previous Descrftions of Eggs. — Keartland : Victorian Naturalist, vol. 

 XV., p. 63 (1898); Le Souef : Victorian Naturalist, vol. xvi., 

 p. 102 (1899). 



Geograjjliical Distribution. — South Queensland, New South Wales. 

 Victoria, Tasmania, and King Island. 



Nest. — A hole or hollow in a tall tree in thick forest. 



Eggs. — Clutch, foiu- to five ; round oval in shape ; texture of .shell 

 somewhat coarse; surface without gloss; colour, pure white. Dimen- 

 sions in inches: 1-31 x 1-08; according to Le Souef: (1) 1-28 x -92, 

 (2) 1-25 X -94. 



Ohxervations. — The Gang-Gang (a native name) Cockatoo is a sin- 

 gular species, ranging through eastern forests, but not in great 

 numbers, from Sovith Queensland to Tasmania. A specimen of this 

 bird was secured on King Island, Bass Strait, during the expedition 

 of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 1887. Probably the bird is 

 nowhere more frequently met with than in the Snowy River district 

 and other places in Gippsland. Its most westcrh' range is the 

 Grampians. 



Gould wrote long ago : " The paucity of information here given 

 (in his Handbook) will, I trust, be a sufficient hint to those favourably 

 situated for observing the habits of this species, that by transmitting 

 an account of the number of its eggs, or other particulars respecting 

 it, to any scientific journal, they would be promoting the cause of 

 science, and adding to the stock of ornithological knowledge." 



To this day wo are very much in the dark about the Gang-Gang, 

 especially in reference to its nidification. Of course, like most 

 Cockatoos, it lays in holes in tall forest trees. Th'> <inlv egg I liave seen 



