22 THE USEFUL BIRDS 



Observation 7 F.— October-December, 1899, Heytesbury, 

 Victoria. — Nest in bole of eucalypt. The second egg was 

 deposited on 18th October, the third on 19th, and fourth on 

 20th. By analogy with this species, the first egg was laid on 

 the 17th October. On 5th November the young hatched out, 

 their bodies being rather nude, and the down grey. The eyes 

 opened on 14th November. Young growing rapidly on 17th 

 November, quills well out and showing grey tufts. By 

 the 19th instant the grey is giving way to black, with 

 chocolate on throat and vent. At this stage the young are so 

 strong, and cling so tenaciously to the nest, that it is dangerous 

 to take them out for examination, especially on the 22nd 

 instant, when the crown and back are dull black. On 5th 

 December the young left the nest for the first time. 



When it is found a clutch of eggs will not develop, certain 

 birds, such as the Black-backed Magpie, place a false flooring 

 to the nest, thus covering the eggs, and immediately re-lay. 

 Judging from the following note it is most probable the 

 Swallows do not follow this method, but rather turn out 

 their eggs when they are proved infertile : — " In a hollow 

 trunk that has been used for 15 years," writes Mr. Graham, 

 " I found the nest, freshly lined with feathers. Shortly 

 afterwards I felt an egg in it, and on the following day two 

 additional, thus proving carelessness in my touch, or that 

 three eggs were laid in 48 hours. I do not believe an error 

 was made on my part. On the fifteenth day all three eggs dis- 

 appeared. About nine days later three more eggs were found 

 in the nest, and they are there now (weeks later), probably 

 infertile, as doubtless were the others. There are no rats, 

 cats or bird-nesting boys in this neighbourhood, so I venture 

 to think the birds, finding no young came on the appointed 

 day (fifteenth), threw them out." 



Young. — Providing for the young necessitates the parents 

 visiting the nest every three minutes. I am inclined to con- 



