NESTS AND EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN ACCIPITRES. 
425 
Nest . — Composed of dead sticks, and lined inside with such 
material as stringy bark or grass and green branchlets. Usually the 
structure is exceedingly bulky, but somewhat flat on the top ; affair- 
sized nest measuring about five or six feet across. Situation, always 
a commanding one— a tail forest tree, or the forked limb of a tree at 
the bend of a river, or on a good mountain outlook. On the plains of 
the interim’, where timber is absent, the nest is sometimes constructed 
of grass and placed on a bush. 
Eggs . — Clutch, 2 usually, but sometimes 1 only; round in shape 
or round ovals ; texture of shell coarse, surface dull and lustreless ; 
colour “Warmish white, blotched and spotted with rusty red intermingled 
with dull cloudy purplish markings which underlie the surface of the 
shell. In another pair the dull purplish markings predominate, one 
example having the whole of the smaller end covered with a large 
patch of dull or light purple. In a third clutch the dull markings 
predominate in one egg, while the other is so richly marbled or mottled 
with the rusty red (in large patches in places) and purplish markings 
as to obliterate nearly the entire white surface. In some rare instances 
specimens have been known to be devoid of anv markings. 
Dimensions in centimetres of proper clutches, namely: — 
Two taken in Victoria ... j A fix l f x ® \ 
\ b (1) 7*4 x G 15 ; (2) 7*3 x 6 0. 
One taken in Tasmania .... ... (1) 7 , 6x6’l; (2) 7*3 x 5*75. 
One taken in Western Australia ... (1) 69 x 5*75 ; (2) 6*68 x 5*7. 
The W edge-tailed Eagle, or, as it is commonly called, the Eagle- 
hawk, is truly a most noble bird, and enjoys a wide range throughout 
the length and breadth of Australia and Tasmania. It is, however, 
becoming rare in parts, and in the near future may be as scarce as the 
golden eagle in Europe, consequent upon the war waged against the 
bird by squatters and others for sundry pastoral depredations which the 
splendid bird by nature is tempted to commit. If we only reflect for a 
moment we shall learn that the good the eagles perform considerably 
overbalances the harm done. 
Most of my experiences amongst eagles’ nests have been with 
the Messrs. Brittlebank in that romantic locality known as the 
Werribee (rorge, and the adjacent ironbark forest ranges beyond 
Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Since the gold era these wild localities 
have remained practically undisturbed for years. In some of the 
more secluded gullies we have seen trees supporting two or three nests, 
while at one favourite bend no less than six bulky structures were in 
sight, showing how long the birds had retained the same spot. Of 
course only one or two would be t lie new nests; the others were aban- 
doned aeries. Sometimes we proved that a particular nest was added to 
and used again season after season, and contained a plentiful amount 
of fur, evidently from rabbits and other animals consumed by the birds 
and young. A favourite situation for a nest or aerie is about 30 feet 
from the ground in a tree on the face of a steep hill, with the gully 
200 feet below and a commanding outlook on either side. Eagles’ 
eggs in the locality mentioned have been taken as early as the end of 
August, and as late as 26th October. However, in other localities, 
notably in Queensland, eggs have been taken as early as the 10th 
June. 
