^'ESTS AA-p EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 765 



bad or seasons of drought tliey did not lay at all. About the season 

 of 1867 he recollects observing tliree eggs in one nest on the Lake Boga 

 run (Victoria). 



Ihe following ai-e tile data 1 have collected bearing on the niuuber of 

 eggs laid by the Bustard. 



Notes from Western Australia, by Mr. Tom Cai-ter : — 



" One egg appears to be the usual niunber." 



'' 2nd October, one egg." 



" 1st August, 1892, found nest with two fresh eggs — Point Cloates." 



Observations in South Australia by my uncle, Mr. Tliomas 

 Pinkerlon : — 



" Often took one, but frequently two." 



■' xYbout 1866, on Maooup Run, about eleven miles north-west of 

 Penola, saw three young, apparently just hatched, in one nest." 



New South Wales. — " September, 1887. A friend put bird off two 

 eggs, near the Lachlan." JVtr. R. J. Dalton (Paroo), 24tli September, 

 1897. foimd " two Turktys' nests, one egg in each." 



Queensland, — '' Onlv lays one egg ; sometimes, but I'arely, two " (Lau). 



Xorth-west Interior. — " Never saw moi-e than one young " (Price 

 Fletcher). 



Both Gould and Dr. Ramsay state that a pair of eggs is the usual 

 complement. 



The sexes are said to keep apai-t in flocks, except in the breeding 

 season. Dtu-ing that period the male Bustard has a cm-ious habit of 

 " showing off," as the children would say, by ascending a slight knoU or 

 eminence on the plain, where he makes frills of his feathers and cuts all 

 sorts of capers, majestic or otherwise. 



Breeding months include June to November, bub chiefly September 

 and October. A relation of Mr. J. T. Gillespie found a fresh egg in 

 Central Queensland in the middle of March (1898). 



