NESTS AND EGOS OE AUSTRALIAN ACCI1MTRES. 
443 
home. However, on the journey thither from the Werribee station, the 
portion of the train I entered was derailed, and I nearly lost my 
precious specimen and my life. 
Gould once took four fully-fledged young birds from holes in a tree 
by the side of a lagoon in the interior of New South Wales. I have 
also witnessed Kestrels entering a hollow spout of a tree overhanging 
the AVerribee Kiver, where I had no doubt the birds were breeding. 
"We have also Gilbert’s note from Northern Australia, which he 
recorded when attached to Dr. Leichhardt’s Expedition — “ October 2. 
Pound for the first time the egg of Tinnunculus cenchroides , four in 
number, deposited in a hollow spout of a gum-tree overhanging a 
creek. There was no nest, the eggs being merely deposited on abed of 
decayed wood.” 
Gould also observed nests which he supposed were constructed 
by the Kestrel, but saves himself by surmising that possibly they may 
have been deserted domiciles of crows or crow-shrikes. The great 
naturalist’s surmise has since proved correct. 
My next adventure with Kestrels was many years after the 
railway “ incident,” with my namesake, Mr. Charles E. Campbell, 
among the belts of “ box ” timber on the plains near Pyramid Hill, 
Victoria. All our finds were taken from crows’ old nests, and 
usually the full complement of five eggs. In some cases many crows’ 
nests containing their own eggs were in the same tree with the 
Kestrels. The following are taken from my notes : — 
4th October, 1884. — Found Kestrel’s (i.e., a crow’s) nest with 
young, and one egg. Crows’ nests with young also in the 
same tree. 
6th October, 1884. — Took out of Crow’s old nest 5 Kestrel’s eggs. 
7 th 4 
Qth ^ 
3 3 33 33 3 3 J 33 33 
I possess a note from South Australia by Mr. James C. 
McDougall, stating that the Nankeen Kestrel there nests commonly 
in crows’ nests, laying four eggs ; wdiile on the western side of the 
continent Mr. Torn Carter has recorded for me — “ Sept. 22 : 5 Kes- 
trel’s eggs on the Minilga .River.” “ Nov. 8 and 15 : Eggs just 
hatching. Twenty-five miles inland from Point Cloates.” Also he 
noted the remarkable discovery of a Kestrel’s nest within an ant- 
hillock, which are conspicuous features in the country thereabouts 
and elsewhere. 
Breeding months of the Kestrel may include from August to 
November or to December. 
Pandion halitaetus (sub-species) leucocephaltjs, Gould. 
( White-headed Osprey.) 
Figure . — Gould: “ Birds of Australia,” fob, vol. i., pi. 6. 
Frevious Description s of Fggs. — Gould : “ Birds of Australia ” 
(1848), also Handbook, vol. i., p. 23 (1865) ; Bamsay : P.Z.S., 
p. 578 (1875) ; North : Catalogue Nests and Eggs Australian Birds, 
p. 23 (1889). 
Geographical Distribution . — Australian coast in general and 
Tasmania; also New Guinea and Moluccas. 
