THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM MAGAZINE. 



229 



Where the Goshawk makes its home. 



[Plioto. — C. Barrett. 



find the legs of a bird (evidently an 

 Indian Myna) protruding from the 

 Goshawk's beak — and feebly inovlng. 

 It was no pleasant sight, but, in the 

 cause of science, it had to be recorded. 

 So the fierce -eyed little glutton was 

 placed on a stump and photographed. 

 He tried to show fight, but his efforts 

 were feeble. 



We heard the loud twittering call, a 

 single note repeated quickly many times 

 as the parent birds circled over neigh- 

 bouring trees. They had two of their 

 offspring in hiding somewhere, but 

 were fearful for the fool of the family, 

 who had been greedy beyond measure. 

 Swift upon its way is the Goshawk, 

 and powerful, too — one of our finest 

 hawks. It has been branded as a 

 ]ioultry thief, but, I think, without a 

 fair trial. I do not assert that it never 

 offends, only that it preys chiefly on 

 small wild "birds. Near the ]iadd()ck 

 where our trio was reared a poultry-run 

 exists, yet we heard no complaint 

 regarding the Goshawks, and the refuse 

 at their feeding camp contained no 

 chicken's bones. 



CHARM OF THE KESTREL. 



Of all the birds that are " red in beak 

 and claw, "after good hunting, I like best 

 the beautiful Nankeen Kestrel (Cerch- 

 neis cenchroides). Its luibit of hovering 

 at)ove haystacks, on the watch for mice, 

 has made the Kestrel a most familiar 

 bird, and a favourite with wise farmers. 

 On wide-spread wings the little hawk 

 hangs motionless until it tires of hover- 

 ing, or a mouse rustles in the hay and 

 earns swift death. Frogs, lizards, and 

 insects are also included in the Kestrel's 

 menu, and rarely it takes a small bird. 



In Riverina one season, I found many 

 nests of the Kestrel — homes in hollows, 

 all of them, some high, some within 

 easy reach. One nursery was a deep 

 hollow in the bole of a dead gum 

 standing in creek water. A little 

 exertion and ingenuity, and taking the 

 risk of a fall, enabled me to get one 

 indifferent photograph— a baby Kestrel 

 at the " door " of the home. The 



Young Goshawk swallowing prey brought by 



parent. Legs of victim ( ? Indian Myna) are 



seen protruding from hawk's bill. 



[Photo. — C. Barrett. 



