50 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



no further advance with this nest, and the single egg remained 

 unincubated. 



Observation III. — October-November, 1899, Heytesbury, Vic 



The first egg was deposited in the nest on 12 th October, and a 

 second on the following day. Several days' watching showed no 

 further development, so, considering the nest was abandoned, the 

 observation ceased ; but passing the nest some weeks later two 

 young were found to be progressing favourably, 



Observation IV.— October-December, 1899, Heytesbury, Vic. 



Nest in bole of a eucalyptus. The second egg was deposited 

 on 18th October, the third on 19th, and fourth on 20th. By 

 analogy, with this species, the first egg was laid on the 17th 

 October. On 5th November the young hatched out, their bodies 

 being rather nude, and the down grey. The eyes opened on 

 14th November ; young growing 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. 



Young. — The provedoring for the young necessitates each 

 parent visiting the nest every three minutes. This is done alter- 

 nately, judging by twenty visits to the nest in one hour, of which 

 each sex makes ten. If only one nestling is supplied at a time the 

 five in the family would each be fed every fifteen minutes. 



After the young have quitted the nest for the first time they 

 return during the heat of the day for several days following. 



The part of the " pipe " in the tree above the nest serves the 

 family as a night camp for ten to twelve days after the young 

 have left the nest for the first time. The non-sitting bird camps 

 in a place apart from the nest during the period the nest is 

 tenanted. While the majority of the birds leave the district 

 during the early autumn a few remain, and then the old birds 

 sing or twitter as well apparently as in the spring. It is not 

 unlikely this is a training for the remaining young in preparation 

 for the following spring and summer. 



Eggs Undeveloped. — When it is found a clutch of eggs will not 

 develop, certain birds, such as the Magpie, Gymnorhina libicev, 

 place a false flooring to the nest, thus covering the eggs, and 

 immediately lay again. Judging from the following note it is 

 most probable the Swallow does not come under this head, but 

 under the one where birds turn out their eggs when proved 

 valueless. The nests are used for several years, generally about 

 one inch of plaster to each rim being added annually and new 



