BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 7 



with black stripes; rest of under surface buff-white, with close 

 narrow bars. Thighs transversely barred. Total length, 15 in. ; 

 wing, 11.75 in." (K. Hall). 



Female. — " Similar, but larger; underneath deep rusty, paler 

 on chest" (11. Hall). 



Nest. — The usual situation appears to be a crevice or ledge on 

 a cliff near or on the sea coast ; the hollow spout of a tree is also 

 used. 



Eggs. — Clutch three; oval in shape; texture fine, with a slight 

 gloss on the surface; ground colour buff, heavily freckled and 

 marked with pinkish-red and rufous-brown. Dimensions in mm. 

 of a clutch :— (1) 50.5 x 38, (2) 51 x 38.5, (3) 50 x 39. 



Breeding Season. — August to November. 



Geograpliical Distribution. — Tasmania and Australia in general; 

 also the Moluccas. 



Observations. — The range of this bird is somewhat restricted, 

 the southern portion of the island seeming to be mostly favoured. 

 I have seen individuals wheeling round and about iVlt. Wellington, 

 but have never met with it in the vicinity of I^aunceston. At 

 several points along the north-west coast, however, it has been 

 met with. Among other places, I have records of it from Kelso, 

 Lilydale, and the Wilmot district. 



LITTLE FALCON (White-fronted Falcon) 

 {Falco lunulatus, Lath.) 



Male. — Upper surface and wings dark grey; chin and throat 

 bufiy-white ; remainder of the under surface reddish-brown ; thighs 

 distinctly rufous. 



Female. — Similar in plumage. 



Nest. — Usually an old erection of another Hawk is approjjriated 

 and lined with leaves. According to Mr. A. J. Campbell, Mr. A. 

 E. Brent took a nest from the broken spout of a peppermint guni. 



Eggs. — Clutch two to three; oval in shape, texture fine, but 

 without lustre; ground colour buff to buffj^-white, heavily freckled 

 and blotched with light reddish-brown. Dimensions of a clutch : — 

 (1) 38 X 30, (2) 38 x 29. 



Breeding Season. — September to November usually. 



Geograpliical Distribution. — Tasmania and the whole of the 

 mainland. 



Observations. — I have never met with this species in the 

 northern portion of the island, but Mr. E. H. Green informs wee 

 that he has seen it about Lilydale and Nolands Bay, while Mr. 

 H. Stuart Dove reports it from Table Cape. The latter gentleman 

 writes me that it is the boldest of the Hawks, and one of the 

 swiftest, and is also absolutely devoid of fear. It is irregularly 

 and sparsely distributed over portions of the southern half. 



