488 
PROCEEDINGS OE SECTION D. 
Mr. North also states that “the late Mr. K. H. ’Bennett found a 
nest of this species at Mount Mauara, in the Wileanuia district. 
New South Wales, on the 9th September, 1885, which contained three 
eggs. The nest was about 70 feet from the ground, and rery difficult 
to obtain, being placed upon the face of an almost perpendicular rock. 
Upon visiting the same place the following year in the month of 
October, Mr. Bennett found that the same pair of birds had repaired 
the old nest, and that it contained a single fresh egg ; but when dis- 
turbed again by his climbing to it they abandoned if, and built a new 
nest a few yards higher up out of reach, the rock on which it was 
placed completely overhanging the site of the old nest.” 
This Falcon appears very local in its habit. On Cape Wollomai,. 
Western Port, a pair of birds could always be fouud, but we could 
never find the nesting-place, which was no doubt on the face of that 
bold headland. During the visit of the Field Naturalists’ expedition 
to Kent Group, Bass Straits, November, 1890, two young Falcons 
in down were observed on a precipitous rocky ledge where were the 
remains of Prions, &c., on the isolated North-east Isle. The old birds 
were furious, and one even struck our leader (Mr. D. Le Souef) in the 
rear as he was crawling along the projecting rocks. 
From Mr. Davis, who was attached to a railway survey camp in 
the Wimmera district, Victoria, I gather the following information : — 
He found the eggs of the Black-cheeked Falcon in the hollow of a dry 
tree close to Lake Hindmarsh. When hatched, he sent the young 
birds to Mr. Charles French, Government Entomologist. Mr. French 
thoughtfully brought them under my notice. Again, on the 18th 
August, 1889, Mr. Davis took fresh eggs of the Falcon, this time from 
a wedge-tailed eagle’s nest, which was situated in a red gum-tree 
near a swamp called Brambrook, about twenty miles west from Lake 
Albucutya, When climbing the tree one of the birds attacked Mr. 
Davis, and would have struck him had he not waved his hat in a 
frantic manner. But when the nest was actually reached it was a 
pretty sight to witness the male bird perched oil the opposite side of 
the great nest and daringly, and I may say nobly, with uplifted wings 
disputing the removal of the eggs, notwithstanding by robbery the 
Falcon itself had annexed the eagle’s nest. These eggs ultimately 
found their way into my collection, and are certainly unique, if only 
for their interesting history. 
The breeding months of this Falcon are from August fo 
November. 
Falco hypoleucus, Gould. 
(Grey Falcon.) 
Figure . — Gould : “ Birds of Australia,” fob, vol. i., pi. 7. 
Previous Descriptions of Eggs. — Kamsav : P.L.S,, N.8. W., vol. vii., 
p. 414 (1882). 
Geographical Distribution . — Northern Territory, South Queens- 
land, New South AY ales, Victoria, South and West Australia. 
Nest . — Constructed of sticks and twigs, and situated in a tall 
tree. Probably a nest built by another large bird is used. 
Eggs . — Clutch. 3 (and 4 probably). “ Ovals in shape, the whole 
of the ground colour being 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 slightly glossy. The bird was seen on the nest. 
