OF VICTORIA. 19 



grey. The eyes opened on 14th November. Young grow- 

 ing rapidly on 17th November, quills well out and showing 

 grey tufts. By the 19th inst. the grey is giving way to 

 black, with chocolate on throat and vent. At this stage 

 the young are so strong and cling so tenaciously to the 

 nest that it is dangerous to take them out for examination, 

 especially on the 22nd inst., when the crown and back are 

 dull black. On 5th December the young left the nest for 

 the first time. 



When it is found a clutch of eggs will not develop, 

 certain birds, such as Gymnorhina tibicen, place a fake 

 flooring to the nest, thus covering the egg^, and immediately 

 relay. Judging from the following note it is most probable 

 the swallow does not come under this head, but under tlie 

 one where birds turn out their eggs when proved valueless- 

 "In a hollow trunk that has been used for 15 years," 

 writes Mr. Graham, " I found the nest, freshly lined with 

 feathers. Shortly afterwards I felt an egg in it, and on 

 the following day two additional, thus proving carelessness 

 in ray touch, or that three eggs were laid in 48 hours. I 

 do not believe an error was made on my part. On the 

 fifteenth day all three eggs disappeared. About nine days 

 later three more eggs were found in the nest, and they are 

 there now (weeks later), probably infertile, as doubtless 

 were the others. There are no rat?!, cats, or bird-nesting 

 boys in this neighbourhood, so I venture to think the birds, 

 finding no young came on the appointed day (fifteenth), 

 threw them out." 



Young. — The providing for the young necessitates each 

 parent visiting the nest every 3 minutes. This is done 

 alternately, judging by 20 visits to the nest in one hour, 

 of which each sex made ten. If only one nestling is 

 supplied at a time, the five in the family would each be fed 



