420 
PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION D. 
Nest . — Som e what flat, constructed of fine sticks broken from the 
extremity of dry branches, and lined inside with green eucalyptus 
leaves. 
Eggs. — Clutch, 2-3; oval in shape; surface soft and beautiful, 
but lustreless ; colour bluish -white, with a few large smudges and 
specks of purplish-brown markings, some of which are duller in colour, 
appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell. Dimensions in centi- 
metres of a clutch : (1) 4 76 x 3 89 ; (2) 47 x 3*9 ; (3) 47 x 3*85 cm. 
Observations . — The announcement of the finding of the nest and 
eggs of this lovely hawk of immaculate whiteness was first made at 
the October meeting, 1887, of the Eoyal Society of Tasmania, when 
the secretary (Mr. Alex. Morton) stated that Mr. Arthur E. Brent, 
an enthusiastic collector, had discovered on the previous day a nest 
containing two eggs. Subsequently the discoverer was good enough 
to allow me to describe the eggs, and forwarded the following informa- 
tion : — “ Nest composed of very fine, dry sticks, broken freshly from 
the extreme ends of dry branches, very flat, with a few green pepper- 
mint gum-leaves forming the receptacle for the eggs, which were two. 
Tree, stringybark ; and nest about 70 feet from the ground. The bird 
being very aggressive, I bad to use my left band to keep her off. I 
could feel the wind on my face from her wings as she flew past, and 
on more than one occasion her wing feathers touched my hand, she 
uttering a piercing cry the while. The eggs were taken on the 9th 
October. Locality: A dark gully on Mount Falkiner.” 
Subsequently another White Hawk's nest was known to Mr. 
Brent, from which eggs were taken two successive seasons. The nest 
was composed of very fine twigs from the dead branches of standing 
trees, which the birds settle on, break off with their talons, and carry 
direct to the nest. This Mr. Brent has observed. The lining of small 
green twigs and leaves is gathered in like manner. Although the 
birds laid about the end of October, in this instance they appeared to 
have commenced to repair their nest about the middle of September, 
for Mr. Brent writes : — “ On the 16th I started for the locality, which 
I reached about 8 o’clock. Secreting myself oil the broad of my back 
in the ferns, &c., I wailed the result. I had not more than twenty 
minutes to wait when the cries of little birds around told me of the 
approach of their enemy, and, looking in the direction from whence 
came a sound like a rushing wind, I saw high up the hill-side above 
me a streak in the air, which proved to be the male bird from its 
smaller size. It came straight for the nest at a terrific rate, shot past 
the nest, then took a complete circle and settled right in it, carrying 
in its claws two small twigs, which the bird immediately dropped, and 
bopping on to the side of the nest seemed to be placing them with its 
beak, all the while uttering a half- whistle, half-cackling noise. This 
I saw repeated several times, likewise by the other bird, which was 
also white.” 
Mr. Brent again visited the nest on the 4th November, when he 
took three eggs with incubation about ten days old. The nest 
resembles that of A. appr oilmans, but is a trifle larger. It may be 
mentioned that the eggs (three) were taken the previous season, about 
the middle of November, by some local lads, who required as a reward 
£2 for each specimen. Possibly they have the eggs yet. 
