18 
FALCONIDJF,. 
“ Tlie nest, from his description is like that of an Ilieracidea, 
composed of sticks and twigs, and placed on a horizontal hough : 
the eggs were three in number, length (A) 2 07 inches x 1 Til 
inch ; (B) 2 inches x 1’52 inch ; they are oblong ovals, the whole 
of the ground colour 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. {Mm. Dobr.,/rom Mr. •/. li. White'* Collection.”) P.L.S., 
N.S.W., Yol. vii, p. 414, Mammy. 
Ilah. Gulf of Carpentaria, Wide Bay District, Dawson River, 
Interior, W. and S.\V. Australia. {Mammy.) 
FALCO SUBNIGER, G. M. Gray. 
Black Falcon. 
Gould, ITahdbh lids. Aunt., Yol. i., sp. 9, p. 28. 
“ It is through Mr. K. H. Bennett’s exertions and liberality that 
I am enabled to describe the eggs of this rare species, taken by 
himself on the 27th of September, 1884. There were four laid 
for a sitting, which closely resemble large specimens of the 
Merlin’s, and are not unlike finely freckled eggs of Ilieracidea 
orient alia, but of a richer or brighter red, the ground colour being 
obscured with rich reddish dots and freckles all over the surface ; 
in some these dots form con luent markings on one end of the egg, 
or patches on the side ; t hey are almost identical in colour and shape 
with those of /'’. Irj/pole ucus, but larger ; the shell is of finer grain 
than is shown in those of the Ilieracidea'. In form they are 
almost true ovals, being but slightly swollen at the thicker end : 
one is rather elongate in form. Length (A) 21 x IT) inches ; 
(B) 2-18 x 1-58 inches ; (C) 2-18 x 1-55 inches;’’ (M.L.S., .V.S. 11'., 
dad Series, Yol. i., p. 1146, Mammy.) 
From a most interesting and exhaustive account of the habits 
of this bird, given by Mr. K. H. Bennett in the P.L.S., N.S.W., 
Yol. x., p. 167, I also extract the following: — 
