. Nests and eggs of birds found breeding in Australia and Tasmania . spout of another \11 the nesting placesfound by him were inholes in trees, andfour eggs constitutedthe usual sitting. From Copman-hurst, on the UpperClarence River, NewSouth Wales, Savidge writesme:—The NankeenKestrel (Cevchiicis1 cnchioidci) is fairlycommon on the riverflats, and cane andmaize fields of theClarence River. Ihave noticed severalat Vamba, ClarenceHeads, also on theupper reaches of theClarence River, but nowhere is it so numerous as in the western districts of the State. Mice seem to form theirfav
. Nests and eggs of birds found breeding in Australia and Tasmania . spout of another \11 the nesting placesfound by him were inholes in trees, andfour eggs constitutedthe usual sitting. From Copman-hurst, on the UpperClarence River, NewSouth Wales, Savidge writesme:—The NankeenKestrel (Cevchiicis1 cnchioidci) is fairlycommon on the riverflats, and cane andmaize fields of theClarence River. Ihave noticed severalat Vamba, ClarenceHeads, also on theupper reaches of theClarence River, but nowhere is it so numerous as in the western districts of the State. Mice seem to form theirfavourite article of food, but an occasional small bird is readily eaten by them ; also beetles andgrubs. It breeds here in the hollow spout of some dead tree, and lays during September,October, November and December, the usual clutch being four. I found five eggs on one occasion. From Broken Hill, in South-western New South Wales, Dr. W. Macgillivray writes me :— Cciilnicis cenchvoidcs is plentifully distributed throughout the district, finding its living on the. A HAUNT OF THK NANKEEN KESTREL ON THE ULUE MOUNTAINS. 288 FALC0N1N,E. open plains, whether covered with saltbush, grass or stunted scrub, poised in the air for a minute,then droppin;, down to investigate whatever has attracted its attention, or to capturesomething of food \alue, such as grasshoppers, cricl<ets and other insects, lizards and smallsnakes, mammals such as mice, and the young of ground breeding birds. Nesting usuallycommences early in September, but few eggs are laid before the middle of that month, andcontinues until the end of October. The usual site is a large open hollow in one of the creekGums, the eggs being deposited on the decayed wood and earthy matter usually found in suchplaces. They sometimes take possession of an old nest of Crow, Brown Hawk or some otherbird, and very rarely build a nest for themselves, which is usually of sticks and twigs compactlyput together, of greater depth than tha
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