434 
PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION D. 
Wales. The conjecture has since proved correct, for Mr. North has 
described, from Dr. Cox’s collection, a very handsome set of eggs of 
the species which were taken near the Hawkesbury River. 
Elanus scriptus, Gould. 
(Letter-winged Kite.) 
Figure. — Gould : “ Birds of Australia,” fol., vol i., pi. 24. 
Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Gould : “ BirJs of Australia,” 
Handbook, p. 55 (18G5) ; North: Catalogue Nests and Eggs Australian 
Birds, p. 15 (18S9). 
Geographical Distribut ion. — South Queensland, New South W ales, 
Victoria, South and (probably) West Australia. 
Nest. — Constructed of sticks, lined with rubbish (chiefly pellets 
composed of rat’s fur ejected from the stomach of the birds), and 
situated in a tree. According to Gould, in some localities the nests 
are placed as near each other as possible, in companies. 
Eggs. — Clutch, 4 ; ovals in shape ; surface of the shell somewhat 
fine, with least perceptible trace of lustre or gloss; giound colour, 
where visible, buffy-white, heavily mottled and blotched all over with 
dirty or dull reddish-brown, inside lining of the shell yellowish- 
green. Dimensions, in centimetres: (1) 4*55 x 3*4 ; (2) 4*43 x 3*37. 
Gould, on the authority of the late Mr. 8. AVhite, states the markings 
are easily removed by wetting. 
Observations. — The Letter-winged Kite does not enjoy such an 
extensive range as the preceding species, being more* limited to 
interior provinces. 
Gypoictinia melanosternon, Gould. 
(Black-breasted Buzzard.) 
Figure. — Gould : “ Birds of Australia,” fol., vol. i., pi. 20. 
Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Bennett : P.L.S., N.8.W., vol. vi. 
p. 146 (1881); Ramsay: P.L.8., N.S.W., vol. vii., p. 413 (1882); 
Campbell: “Southern Science Record” (1883); North: Catalogue 
Nests and Eggs Australian Birds, p. 13 (1889). 
Geographical Distribution. — Interior provinces of Australia in 
general. 
N 3st. Large, resembling a Wedge-tailed Eagle’s ( Uroaetus audax) 
aerie; roughly constructed of sticks, and generally situated in the 
thick fork of a tree. 
Eggs- — Clutch, 2 ; round in shape ; surface somewhat coarse and 
lustreless ; colour dull white ; (1) has a few indistinct large brown 
blotches about the centre of the egg, and is covered all over with dark- 
violet hieroglyphics ; (2) is blotched all round the centre and about 
the larger end with dark-brown, inclining to violet, intermingled with 
a few indistinct lilac blotches. Dimensions : 6*35 x 4*5 to 4*9 cm. 
The descriptions are from a pair of eggs taken by Mr. IT. H. Peck, 
in the Riverina district, on the 17th September, 1883. 
Observations. — This exceedingly fine bird of prey is not a common 
species, and appears to be confined to the plains of the interior, 
especially those bordering rivers. 
