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open plains, whether covered with saltbush, grass or stunted scrub, poised in the air for a minute, 

 then droppin;,' down to investigate whatever has attracted its attention, or to capture 

 something of food \alue, such as grasshoppers, cricl<ets and other insects, lizards and small 

 snakes, mammals such as mice, and the young of ground breeding birds. Nesting usually 

 commences early in September, but few eggs are laid before the middle of that month, and 

 continues until the end of October. The usual site is a large open hollow in one of the creek 

 Gums, the eggs being deposited on the decayed wood and earthy matter usually found in such 

 places. They sometimes take possession of an old nest of Crow, Brown Hawk or some other 

 bird, and very rarely build a nest for themselves, which is usually of sticks and twigs compactly 

 put together, of greater depth than that of the Magpie, and lined with fur and wool. I once 

 took a clutch of four eggs from such a nest, built in a Gum sapling, and a clutch of five Short- 

 billed Crows eggs (Coi-viis hcundti ) from a nest in an adjoining tree. Three weeks later, on 

 again visiting the locality, I found that the Kestrel had taken possession of the Crow's nest, 

 in preference to her own, and there were four partially incubated eggs." Writing of the birds of 

 the Cloncurry District, Northern Queensland, Dr. Macgillivray says: — "The Kestrel is very 

 common, usually nesting in hollow trees or on debris left in a tree by flood waters. My brother 

 was once camped for some days near a tree in which was a Kestrel's nest with young, and 

 frequently saw the birds bring small snakes, from one to two feet in length, to the nest." 



Writing from Mossgiel, New South Wales, the late Mr. K. H. Bennett remarked as 

 follows : — Tinitiiih'ulns ccncliyoidcs is an extremely connnon species, being met with everywhere in 

 the district. Its powers of flight are considerable, but like Hitvacidea ovientalis is seldom, if ever, 

 used in the capture of its prey. It is a very active bird, and may frequently be observed poised 

 on outstretched and quickly vibrating wings, whilst it scrutinises the ground beneath. Should 

 the movement of some insect or small reptile attract its attention, it is unerringly pounced on, 

 and either devoured on the spot or carried off to some perch to be eaten at leisure. It breeds in 

 September, generally taking possession of the disused nest of another species, but more often 

 that of Conine an'stmlis. Occasionally it depi^sits its eggs, Parrot like, in a hole in a branch or 

 trunk of a tree." 



While resident later on at Yandembah Station, in the Lachlan District, New South Wales, 

 Mr. Bennett wrote: — "On the iSth October, 1890, I found Tinniuicidus ccuchvoidcs had 

 taken possession of a disused nest of the White-winged Chough (Coviorax iiit-laiioidiaiiipliiis ), 

 and it contained three Kestrel's eggs. This is a very unusual site. Another pair constructed 

 their nest, from which I took three eggs, in the drum of a whim close to the house. Last year 

 a pair of Ra\ens (Coroiic austiiiUs) built in the drum, but I pulled the nest out antl destroyed it, 

 so the Kestrels have been the sole builders of the nest this year." 



From Orange, New South Wales, Mr. E. H. Lane writes me: — "Tlie Kestrel (Tiiniinituliis 

 ccnchroidcs) is very common in the Orange and Dubbo Districts. According to my experience 

 four eggs constitute the usual clutch, though I have heard of live being found on several occasions. 

 I have always taken them from hollow limbs, lying on decayed wood." 



From Melbourne, Victoria, Mr. G. A. Keartland writes me as follows : — " The pretty little 

 Nankeen Kestrel is a great favourite of mine, and should be held in good repute by all dwellers 

 in the country. These birds are, as a rule, perfectly harmless so far as chickens are concerned, 

 but are great hunters of mice, crickets, lizards and grasshoppers. Whilst the Kestrel is found 

 throughout Australia, they are most numerous in the agricultural portions, where they may be 

 seen Hying round the hay stacks, or fluttering over the stubble in search of mice. I have seen 

 as many as seventeen of tliese birds flying over a field of lifty acres, sometimes skimming close 

 to the ground, and at others, by a slight quiver of the wings, remaining almost stationary for 

 several minutes, they drop like a stone on to their victims, whicli they carry to the nearest tree 

 or fence to consume. The Kestrel does not build a nest for itself, but lays its eggs in the 



