136 SANDLAXD & ORTON, Birds near Moora. [\'ltoT 



1918, some nests contained large young ones, and others were in all 

 stages from that down to building. Odd birds were still laying in 

 January. Usually eggs can be seen from the end of August to the 

 middle of November. 



Anhinga nova?-hollandiae. Australian Darter. — A few pairs usually 

 about. Found breeding for the first time last season, when five nests 

 were found, all containing four eggs. Nests were built of green tea- 

 ti'ee twigs about a foot long, and were placed on leaning forks. One 

 nest was found in the Cormorant rookery, the other four were in 

 larger trees on the outskirts. 



Astur fasciatus. Australian Goshawk. — Rare. Two nests were 

 found; one at Karo Swamp, containing two eggs, and another with 

 three eggs in a large red gum in a watercourse leading to Walyerin 

 Swamp, several miles nearer Moora. Several nests have been taken 

 at odd times, and the eggs are usually smaller than eggs from the 

 Eastern States. However, the pair seen at Karo are the largest I 

 have yet seen. In 1908 I examined 12 sets of eggs of Astur fascinans 

 in S.A., and retained two, the largest set, and the best-marked set. 

 The above pair are larger than either of these sets. 



Hieraetus pennatus. Little Eagle. — Rare. One pair of birds nested 

 near the Bulrush Swamp, and when robbed moved away about a quar- 

 ter of a mile and nested again. In each instance only a single egg 

 was laid. Have seen four other nests at different times, and twice a 

 pair of eggs was laid. In each instance one egg was distinctly 

 smaller than the other, although the ^ggs belonged to different pairs 

 of birds. Have never known them to build their own nest. They patch 

 up an old Crow's nest and line it with green gum leaves. 



Halia.stur sphenurus. Whistling Eagle. — Rare. One pair nested in 

 a large dead white gum, near the swamps. This is the first record of 

 these bii'ds in the district to our knowledge. Eggs were taken twice 

 from the same nest. Among the nesting material was the backbone 

 of a lamb, dried-up skeleton of a rabbit, and wing of a Musk-Duck. 

 They laid two eggs the first time, and three the second. The second 

 climb was made lively by a swarm of bees, which had taken possession 

 of a hollow about 15 feet below the nest, and being a hot day, they 

 were extra spiteful. 



Cerchneis cenchroides. Nankeen Kestrel. — Common. A pair nested 

 in a hollow in same tree as the Whistling Eagle's nest, but only about 

 20 feet from the ground. Have never knowji this bird to nest in an 

 old Crow's nest in this district, but always in a hollow. Three or 

 four eggs form a clutch here, usually four. 



Ninox boobook ocellata. Marbled Owl. — Rare. While I was climb- 

 ing to nest of the Whistling Eagle, Mr. Orton went round tapping 

 trees with the tomahawk, and Hushed a bird within 150 yards. The 

 nest contained three eggs, and ended a cjuest of years, as I had pre- 

 viously only a single egg in my collection. These birds moved away 

 about a quarter of a mile, and we found the nest later with newly- 

 hatched young in it. Eggs are merely laid on wood-dust at bottom of 

 hollow. 



Barnardius zonarius. Yellow-Banded Parrot. — Common. Nests 

 hard to find as birds seldom flush, and don't gnaw round the hollow 

 as most Parrots do. Found one nest containing five eggs, and two 

 with young, judging by the chorus set up at the lirst stroke of the 

 tomahawk. Five and six are the usual number of eggs laid, very 

 rarely seven, and in one instance eight. 



P.sephotus varius. Many-colouretl Parrot. — Rare. One nest found 

 contained young birds. This is the first known instance of their 

 breeding so close to Moora. 



