18 FALCONIDJE. 



" The nest, from his description is like that of an Hieracidea, 

 composed of sticks and twigs, and placed on a horizontal bough ; 

 the eggs were three in number, length (A) 2-07 inches x 1'51 

 inch ; (B) 2 inches x 1*52 inch ; they are oblong ovals, the whole 

 of the ground colour obscured by minute dots and freckles of 

 rusty-red ; there is in one an indistinct band on the larger end, 

 the shell is smooth and sligiitly glossy ; the bird was seen on the 

 nest. {Mm. Dobr.,from Mr. .T. B. Wliite's Collection.") P.L.S., 

 KS.W., Vol. vii., p. 414, liammy. 



Hah. Gulf of Carpentaria, Wide Bay District, Dawson River, 

 Interior, W. and S.W. Australia. (Ramtny.) 



^ FALCO SUBNIGER, G. R. Clrny. 



Black Falcon. 



Gould, Uandhh. Bds. Aust., Vol. i., sp. 9, p. 28. -22:. / 



" It is through Mr. K. H. Bennett's exertions and liberality that 

 I am enabled to describe the eggs of this rare species, taken by 

 himself on the 27th of September, 1884. There were four laid 

 for a sitting, wliich closely resemble large specimens of the 

 Merlin's, and are not unlike finely freckled eggs of Ilip.raride.a 

 orientalis, but of a richer or brighter red, the ground colour being 

 obscured with rich reddish dots and freckles all over the surface ; 

 in some these dots form con luent markings on one end of the egg, 

 or patches on the side ; they are almost identical in colour and shape 

 with tliose of F. hypoleucus, but larger ; the shell is of finer grain 

 than is shown in those of the Ilieracided'. In form tliey are 

 almost true ovals, being but slightly swollen at the tiiicker end ; 

 one is rather elongate in form. Length (A) 2-1 x 1-6 inches; 

 (B) 2-13 X 1-58 inches ; (C) 2-18 x l-5.'5 inches." {P.L.S., N.S. W., 

 3nd Series, Vol. i., p. 1146, Ramsay.) 



From a most interesting and exhaustive account of the habits 

 of this bird, given by Mr. K. H. Bennett in the P.L.S., N.S.W., 

 Vol. X., p. 167, I also extract the following : — 



