. Nests and eggs of birds found breeding in Australia and Tasmania . ults of both ; specimens were also rtceived from Goulburn, presentedby iMr. A. M. N. Rose, and from Botany, procured by Mr. H. Burns. In New South Wales it is essentiallyan inhabitant of the large inland grassyplains, but is occasionally met with inscrub-covered wastes near the noted it \ery numerous in Novemberon the plains between Breeza andNarrabri, usually trying just a few feetabove the tops of the waving sea ofluxuriant grass in search of prey, everand anon dropping into concealmentas it secured, perchance
. Nests and eggs of birds found breeding in Australia and Tasmania . ults of both ; specimens were also rtceived from Goulburn, presentedby iMr. A. M. N. Rose, and from Botany, procured by Mr. H. Burns. In New South Wales it is essentiallyan inhabitant of the large inland grassyplains, but is occasionally met with inscrub-covered wastes near the noted it \ery numerous in Novemberon the plains between Breeza andNarrabri, usually trying just a few feetabove the tops of the waving sea ofluxuriant grass in search of prey, everand anon dropping into concealmentas it secured, perchance, some haplessbird or small mammal. When soaringnot too high,one can usually distinguishthis species when on the wing by thelighter colour of the under surface ofthe wings, and its distinctly barred a rule, however, it is shy and doesnot admit of too close an approach. The food of the Spotted Harrierconsists usually of small birds, mam-mals and reptiles. The stomach ofone I examined, shot at Randwick,contained a mouse and the remains ofa number of SPOTTRt) HAHRIKR. iVpart from the great variation inthe young and adult of this species, agreat difference may be observed also in individual adult specimens. Some have the entire under surface spotted with white, others have the foreneck pale bluish-slate colour like the facial ruff. The late Mr. K. H. Bennett, while resident at \andembah Station, near Booligal, NewSouth Wales, wrote me :—^^ Citrus assimilis is in these parts of migratory habits, usually arrivingabout the end of August and departing again after breeding, about February. It frequents theplains and open country, being rarely found in thick timber, and it preys chiefly upon smallreptiles and such birds as Quail, Larks, &c., to which is added large insects such as grasshoppersand Mantis. The nest, which is generally placed amongst the dense branches of some smalltree, is a loosely built structure composed of small sticks, almost flat, and lined with a
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