J'JDQL 1ST — /nil tor Oniitholoyi.si.s. 171 



Nesting Seiiscm. — From the middle of August till the end 

 of November, September being the principal breeding month. 



Nest. — An open cup-shaped structure, built externally of 

 dried grasses, strips of reeds or paper-bark, and mainly lined 

 with feathers. As a rule two large curved feathers are built 

 into the top of the nest in such a way as to ,eompletely cover 

 the opening. A nest found at the Grange, S.A., on September 

 15th measured. Iieight over all 9.5 cm., depth of cavity 5.0 cm., 

 opening 40 x 50 cm. 



Eggs. — Three or four in a ciiitch. I'lie nest mentioned 

 above contained five egg.s, but this is the only occasion on which 

 I have seen so many. The eggs are long and oval, surface dull, 

 ground colour white strongly speckled with dark red, some- 

 times so thickly as to almost conceal the ground colour. 



Average measurement of nine eggs, 1.88 x 1.38 cm. 

 Largiest egg, 2.0 x 1.40 cm. 

 Smallest egg, 1.85 x 1,40 cm. 



Junior Ornithologists. 

 By A. G. Edquist. 



In lOlO School Bi'rd Protection Clubs were inaugurated 

 in the Public Schools of South Australia. 



The idea was to secure a large number of children\s clubs 

 officered by the youngsters themselves, unless the scholars 

 wished the teacher to act as President. 



During the course of Nature-study the teachers brought 

 under the notice of the children the importance of birds to 

 Australia, and urged them to band together and help theii* 

 elders in protecting our unique and wonderful avifauna. 



As a result over 500 elubs have been formed and tens of 

 thousands of members hav6 been enrolled. 



With so many sharp-eyed observers interested in the wel- 

 fare of the native birds, a better time is in store for our 

 feathered friends. 



One result has been that native birds are more numerous 

 about the City environs to-day than was the case a few years 

 ago, when the shanghai was as much a part of the schoolboy's 

 outfit as was his pencil-case. 



