THE BIRDS OF THE COBBORA DISTRICT. 



113 



Nest and eggs of the Sparrow Hawk (.-in ipilet cirrhocephalus) in branch of a 

 Native Apple Tree. 



All illustrations arc from photographs taken by the Author on the Cobborah Estate. 



Accipitcr cirrhocephalus (Sparrow Hawk).— A rare species here, just an occasional pair 01 a 

 single bird turning up at any time. I have only found four nests ; one had young when I climbed 

 to it. I took eggs from the others, one nest two years in succession ; upon the latter occasion the 

 bird laid five eggs, which is the only clutch of more than four I have ever heard of. Most of the eggs 

 taken here have been practically white, just an odd specimen being spotted, and then most of the 

 markings as if beneath the surface of the shell. 



Uroaetus auda.x (Wedge-tailed Eagle). — This fine eagle is never very plentiful here, but there 

 are always a few pairs about, and in this district they seldom, if ever, do any damage to the stock. 

 In this district alone I have taken six sets of their eggs, and have climbed to at least an equal number 

 of their nests containing young birds, and numerous others from which the young have gone. Although 

 they breed in the lambing season, 1 have never yet seen the remains of a lamb in the nest, but always 

 rabbits, and plenty of them. They are early breeders, sometimes laying in May, but mostly in July. 



Eutolmcetus morphnoides (Little Eagle). — A very rare bird here. I have only seen four pairs, 

 and they were all breeding, the first being in 1910, and as I was not sure of the species I shot both 

 birds at the nest. The following year another pair came and built a nest in a tree only about 150 

 yards away from where the first nest was. It contained a nearly fully-fledged young bird when I 

 found it. I saw no more of this species until 1917, when another pair had a nest only about 1 50 yards 

 from No. 2, and another pair built a nest a few miles down the river. Of the three sets of eggs only 

 one has been a pair, the ethers being single eggs, and they were taken during the months of September, 

 October and November. 



