^°S"] -McClM'. /rirds of Lake Froinc District. 277 



topmost fork of a gum. Birds seen attacking other birds in vicinity, 

 and watched till female returned to nest. Both birds became very 

 agitated when tree was being climbed, flying round close to the 

 climber, uttering their short, twittering cry all the time. Did not 

 actually attack, but swooped with closed wings unpleasantly near. 

 Three eggs formed the sitting; the eggs are miniatures of the Grey 

 or Black Falcon. Date, 25th September, 1920, which is appai-ently 

 the breeding season as several inaccessible nests have been noted in 

 September with birds in attendance. 



leracidea berigora. Brown Hawk. — Very numerous, both dark and 

 light forms, though the light forms are much more numerous. Breeds, 

 usually commencing early in May or June; borrows any old Crow's 

 or Hawk's nest, which is scratched out to form an egg cavity. This 

 is then lined with green leaves. With one exception, gum leaves 

 were used, the exception being ti-tree leaves. Clutch, 2 to 5 eggs; 

 eggs vary a great deal in coloration, soiiie being very handsome, while 

 others are of a "washed-out" appearance. Nestlings are clothed in 

 a rusty coloured down, iris brown, legs almost white and bill of a 

 deep lead colour. Nestlings of light and dark forms are indistin- 

 guishable. Occasionally builds its own nest, which is then usually 

 constructed with light straw-coloured twigs. Male bird carries most 

 if not all of the food to female on nest if with eggs or young. Female 

 flies cut of nest, takes the food in its claws from its mate while in 

 flight, and returns to a branch close to nest. When attending a brood, 

 she tears off" pieces of rabbit or bird or other food and feeds the 

 young. The young do not feed from the carcases till they can leave 

 the nest. 



Cerchneis cenchroides. Nankeen Kestrel. — Very numerous, and 

 breeds freely in hollow tree-spouts, caves, and in stick nests, which 

 are usually of "Crow" construction. Clutch, 4 to 6 eggs. Nestlings 

 are covered in white down, legs yellow, bill almost white, iris almost 

 red. A great destroyer of rats, mice, grasshoppers and grubs. 



Ninox boobook. Boobook Owl. — Common. Calls "Mopoke"; so also 

 •does the Podargus, but of a duller note and more prolonged, like 

 "Mcorpocrk." Apparently two forms in district, one much redder in 

 appearance. Breeds in district. Clutch, 3 eggs. 



Tyto alba. Barn Owl. — Fairly numerous; breeds. Clutch, from 3 

 to 6 eggs. Nests in deep hollows; lives in same hollow throughout 

 year till breeding time. 



Cacatua rcseicapilla. Galah. — In countless numbers, largely in- 

 creasing. Its wonderful company flight must be seen to be appreci- 

 ated. One moment they appear a mass of silver, when suddenly 

 they "side-slip," and show the glorious pink colours of the breast. 

 To see a flock of a thousand Galahs in "action" is a beautiful sight. 

 These birds intermingle with Bare-eyed Cockatoo (C sangidnca), but 

 do not inter-breed so far as the writer has observed. Breed in great 

 numbers, almost every hollow in trees being tenanted by either Galah 

 or Bare-eyes (Little Corella). The nesting hollow is usually well 

 bitten around entrance, and for several feet down the trunk on sky- 

 side. The eggs, four in number, are placed on a bed of gi'een gum 

 leaves. Young take almost the adult plumage fi'om nest. Feeds 

 mostly en seeds, and may be seen in lai"ge flocks on the ground. 

 Usually breeds in July to September, whether the season be good 

 or bad. Has at least two broods in good years. 



Cacatua .sanguinea. Little Corella (Bare-eyed Cockatoo). — Even in 

 greater numbers than the Galah, they twist and turn in flight, but 

 their colour does not allow them to form such a picture as given by 

 the Galahs; breed freely, nesting in hollows; eggs, 3 usually, rarely 

 deposited on wood dust only, no lining. Only once have I found their 

 eggs on gum leaves, and as one egg of Galah was with three of 



