13G THK VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



Nine days subsequent to this unfortunate sequel to the first 

 nest I discovered the female again sitting, and in order to make 

 sure of the full clutch I left the nest undisturbed for a further 

 period of three days, when I climbed up. Fearing the bird might 

 again shuffle the egg out of the nest I patted the tree to induce 

 her to leave the nest. She would not shift, however, and when 

 within arm's length of her I reached out my hand, at which she 

 spread out her tail and uplifted her feathers in a menacing 

 manner, and not till my hand almost touched her did she con- 

 descend to leave the nest. On flying off she uttered several 

 notes like "cluck, cluck," and was immediately joined by the 

 male, both disappearing among the timber. Her departure re- 

 vealed one beautiful egg, the nest in this instance being situated 

 at a height of 40 feet, and placed in a Peppermint, Eucalyptus 

 amygdalina. I subsequently found another nest in a different 

 locality, which contained one egg with incubation far advanced, 

 hence I think I may fairly claim to have established the fact that 

 one egg constitutes the clutch. As showing the diversity of 

 situation chosen by this bird for nesting purposes, however, I was 

 fortunate enough to find one situated in a small Honeysuckle 

 (Banksia) tree, just 16 feet from the ground. In this instance I 

 also allowed ample time for the bird to complete her laying, but, 

 as previously noted, but one egg was laid. 



I have no doubt that the birds build in isolated pairs over a 

 wide area, though I only located the two pairs, separated by 

 something like a distance of two miles. Quiet, unfrequented 

 localities, where the timber is big and tall, with permanent water 

 in the vicinity, is no doubt the spots chosen by these birds for 

 nesting purposes, and they probably migrate northwards as soon 

 as the young are capable of sustained flight. 



In the " Records of the Australian Museum," vol. ii., No. 1, 

 page 13, a short account is given by Mr. A. J. North, F.L.S , of 

 the discovery of a nest, which contained but one egg, by Mr. 

 C. C. L. Talbot, on Collaroy station, Broad Sound, 556 miles 

 north-west of Brisbane, during the month of September, 1882, 

 This nest was situated forty feet from the ground, in an ironbark 

 tree, and is, so far as I am aware, the only occasion previously 

 recorded of the discovery of the nest of this bird. 



I am exhibiting to-night two nests and two eggs, one from 

 each pair of birds, and the eggs show considerable difference in 

 shape ; also in the ground colour when seen in daylight. In 

 conclusion I may state that both birds perform the task of 

 building the nest, as I observed each of them so occupied. The 

 nest will always be a most difficult one to find, owing to the 

 extremely shy and retiring nature of the birds, and from the fact 

 that the female sits so closely that she will not be flushed from 

 the nest by anyone passing ever so near to her on the ground. 



