THE BIRDS OP AUSTRALIA. 
intervals . often have I seen young in a nest in various stages of growth, 
from just hatched up to about half-fledged birds. In the spring of 1899 I 
saw a nest containing two eggs and three young birds : the latter were 
from only a few days old up to partly-feathered birds ; upon examining 
the nest again a week later there were five young birds in the nest — one 
appeared to have only been hatched that morning, the next smallest was a 
few days old.” 
Mr. Tom Carter, from Broome Hill, South-West Australia, observes: 
“ Circus gouldi takes the place of Circus assimilis in the South-west, but is 
not usually found far away from lakes or swamps, above which it searches 
for food in much the same manner as assimilis ^ 
Little was known of its economy in Gould’s time, but he notes its 
resemblance to the Marsh Harrier of Europe in habits, and reproduces a note 
by Mr. White of Adelaide (Capt. S. A. White’s father) thus: “This bird is 
very numerous in South Australia during the summer months, and is generally 
found in swampy situations. I have seen it on the Murray, and in many 
other places. It feeds on eggs, birds, reptiles, and indeed on almost 
everything. I have often observed it flying close over the tops of the reeds, 
when quite dark. Its cry is a kind of loud shrill whistle of one note. At 
times it will fly very high. It varies much in colour : the two sexes are much 
alike, but the female is the larger bird of the two.” 
Much has been since recorded as hereafter given. 
A. G. Campbell, writing of the birds of North-eastern Victoria {Emu, 
Vol. II., p. 10, 1902), noted : “ The Spotted Harrier {Circus jardinii) and 
the common Harrier {C. gouldi) are local birds, the former preferring for its 
domain a patch of reed-beds, and the latter seemingly with more delight for 
a crop of wheat or long grass, where it can hunt up and down for such 
provender as Quails and young hares, and where often its nest is to be 
found.” 
In the same place, p. 222, Mr. Le Souef recorded the following : “ An 
interesting phase in the nesting of this bird lately came under my notice in 
Tasmania. Last October, Mr. H. W. Legge, of CuUenswood, found a nest of 
this Harrier situated among some rushes growing in swampy land. The nest 
contained three fresh eggs, and he took one for Col. Legge, his father, 
leaving the other two. In December following, I paid the nest a visit with 
Mr. Legge, and we were surprised to find that the female bird had laid 
another clutch of three eggs, and that two were hatched out. Of the first 
clutch of three, one was taken, another was addled^ and the third hatched 
out, but when the youngster was about a fortnight old the hen bird had again 
laid another clutch of three, of which two hatched out, and the other was 
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