5l4 Mr. E. Gibson on the Ornitholoi/y of [Ibis, 



esparto — " all built of esparto, deeply cup-shaped, but slight : 

 lined with some wool. Three of these had newly-hatched 

 young. " The three preceding instances constitute my 

 personal knowledge of the Chimaugo as a ground-nester. 

 As a tree-builder 1 have absolutel}^ no record until 1913, 

 when an extract from my diary (under date 1 October) 

 states "a pair observed building a nest at Cumming'spuesto 

 (sub-station) at the very top of a Wattle-tree, about twenty 

 feet from the ground, and where they had luueh difficulty 

 in conveying the long slender sticks on account of the windy 

 day. First instance of tree-nesting which has come under 

 my observation in forty years." Again, on 30 October, 

 1915, " a pair building in Eucalyptus tree on the roadway 

 and close to my house at Yngleses head-station. Am also 

 informed of another nest in Tala wood not far off, where 

 also a brood was brought off last year.^' All these three 

 nests were built of sticks. It is true ClaiKle Grants collec- 

 tion of ten eggs (representing, say, four clutches) was taken 

 from either tree- or ground-nests, but it is to be borne in 

 mind that he struck the beginning of the big drought at 

 Ajo, when all the swamps were dry. 



If the abundance of the species is taken into consideration, 

 and the number of natural and artificial woods (even the 

 rincones are dotted with Tala trees), whilst also the district 

 is fully blessed with thistle-beds and grass-coverts, my con- 

 tention 1 think is fully proved that the (.*himango in our 

 district is inherently addicted to the habit of seeking the 

 swamps for sheltei' at night and the rearing of its young in 

 the nesting-season. 



The eggs, previously described, average 43 x 31 mm. 



310. Polyborus tharus Mol. Carancho Carrion- Hawk. 



Since 1 wrote in 1879 respecting this bold marauder 

 " Very common, and very destructive to lambs," circum- 

 stances have undoubtedly altered. The diminishing number 

 1 trace back in ray diary to the year 1898, and 1 think it 

 has not been confined to this locality alone. It is attribut- 

 able doubtless to the increased persecution brought on by 



