gyS NESTS AND EGGS OF AVSl^RALIAN BIRDS. 



In a similar situation, but at another corner of the Continent, 

 namely, Lower Blackwood River, near Cape Leeuwin, the Misses Ellis 

 informed me that they observed the Little Cormorant breeding in nests 

 solely made of the paper-like bark of the tea-tree, and in company with 

 other brooding Connorants, namely, the Large Black and Little Black, 

 all their nests being placed from one to five feet above the surface of 

 the water. The eggs kindly presented to me by iVliss A. M. Ellis were 

 dated 23rd August, 1889. 



Mr. Hany Barnard found a rookery of about fifteen or twenty 

 nests of Little Cormorants in a clump of saplings in the centre of a 

 large swamp, three or four nests being in a tree, witli here and there a 

 nest of the stately White-necked (Pacific) Heron. 



Mr. S. W. Jackson writes : " I found a colony of these birds breeding 

 tliis season (1898) on a point of land iimning into a big swamp near 

 South Grafton, on September 11th. 



" The nests were built in swamp oak and eucalyptus trees, the 

 altitudes varying from twelve to forty feet. In one small eucalyptus 

 tree we found over 260 eggs, the tree possessing about 100 nests, some 

 nests containing four eggs, others five, some two and one, but the 

 majority contained three to four each. From one swamp oak tree we 

 took 160 eggs, and many others from adjoining trees. 



" The trees were simply alive with birds sitting upon nests, and 

 their peculiar croaking noise sounded like thousands of frogs. Tiu^ir 

 eggs vary much in size and shape. 



" My friend, Mr. T. Vesper, accompanied me, and also my brother, 

 and we had a fair share each of egg-blowing to do. All eggs found 

 were fresh." 



Gould was infonned that the Little Cormorant lays six eggs some- 

 times. I have heard of Connorants laying seven eggs, but am of opinion 

 that such cases are combination clutches, 



Diuing a visit to Riverina, September, 1894, I saw examples of 

 eggs of the Little Connorant collected in a swamp near the Edwards 

 River. I am infonned that young Connorants just fledged are excellent 

 eating, and that it takes an export to distinguish them from the flesh 

 of ducks. 



Usual laying months, August or September (.o November. 



