178 FALCONID.F,. 



found a pair of these birds buildinj,' in a similar position, from wiiich 1 took three sHghtly 

 incubated eggs on the 4th October. In this small clump of about a dozen Pines (Calliiris, sp.) 

 four other species of Accipitres were all breeding at the same time, viz.. Brown Hawk (Hicracidea 

 oyuiitalls), Whistling Eagle ( Haliastm' sphcnnrns), Allied \\\\.e(Milvus affi.nis),^nd Nankeen Kestrel 

 (Tinnunculus ccnchroidcs). On the i8th October I took four eggs of Cinus assimilis from the same 

 nest I took three eggs on the 4th instant ; this is the first instance I have ever found more than 

 three." 



From Orange, Xevv South Wales, Mr. E. H. Lane writes me : — " For the first time in his 

 experience Mr. F. Burcher saw Circus assimilis in the IMossgiel District in 1905, the season being 

 very good, and all the swamps full of water. He robbed no less than seven nests, six of which 

 had three eggs and one only two eggs. The nests were rather Hat structures, lined with green 

 leaves, and placed either in mistletoes or other bushy parts of the trees. The three sets I 

 received were taken on the ist, 6th and 2^xd September, 1905. Mr. Burcher forwarded me a 

 skin of this bird with them, which I sent you for identification." 



From Broken Hill, South-western New South Wales, Dr. W. Macgillivray sends me the 

 following notes : — " Examples of Circus assimilis may often be seen sailing and Happing their 

 way slowly o\er the plains in search of food. < )n the wing they are easily distinguished from 

 their congeners by the general light grey colour, and when seen from underneath, the black tips 

 of the wings serve still further to distinguish them, .\lthough much commoner than C. gouldi, 

 I have not yet come across a nest." 



From Melbourne, \"ictoria, Mr. G. \. Keartland sends me the following notes : — " The 

 Spotted Harrier f C!)r(/5 r(s,ww/7/5J has a very wide range extending from Southern X'ictoria to 

 North-western Australia. These birds are usually seen flying slowly close to the ground, ready 

 to pounce on snakes, lizards, rabbits or mice, and immediately their prey is secured they 

 commence teaiing it to pieces and swallowing it. In North-western .Australia I saw many of 

 them hunting in the Spinifex for rats, lizards and jerboas, which were numerous. I found a 

 nest containing three eggs in the horizontal branch of a desert Gum about twenty feet high. 

 At Nhill, Victoria, a pair of these birds were flying slowly just over the tops of the Mallee 

 bushes in quest of rabbits, passing within a few feet of where I stood watching other birds. 

 That they are very bold was proved whilst the late Mr. W. P. Henderson and I were rabbit 

 shooting above a railway embankment at Beveridge, Victoria. We had just put a ferret in a hole 

 at the bottom of the bank, whilst we stood on top waiting for a shot, when we noticed a Spotted 

 Harrier standing on a fence about sixty yards away. Three or four times it flew to the ground, 

 and appeared to be attacking something. Then we found that it was trying to lift a large ralibit 

 hiding in the long grass, but the rabbit eventually escaped into a hole, just then the white 

 ferret ran along the bottom of the bank, and the Harrier made a dash for it, but fell a victim to 

 our guns when it w^as within iifteen feet of where we stood." 



Mr. Tom Carter sent me the following note from Broome Hill, Western Australia : — " The 

 Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis) was one of the commonest birds of prey about the North-west 

 Cape, North-western .'\ustralia, but of wary habits, and not easily secured. On hot days they 

 will seek the shelter of densely foliaged trees or bushes, and may then be approached closely. 

 The main food appears to be lizards, but I have seen birds (of immature plumage only) attack 

 poultry near the house in a determined maimer. By far the greater majority of this species seen 

 are in innnature plumage, only about one bird in a dozen having the handsome spotted feathers. 

 They were observed most frequently in the winter months, doubtless because it was usually our 

 wet season, and food would be more abundant. The large flat nests are built in low or high trees, 

 and I ha\'e noted eggs in nests built at various elevations above the ground, from eight to forty 

 teet. The usual clutch of eggs is three, but I once took four eggs from a nest. Eggs were 

 noted on various dates between July 17th and September 13th. Li/ards of considerable size. 



