398 A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE MUDGEE DISTRICT, 



5. Aquila audax, Lath. 



Breeds in the district. All the nests we have seen have been 

 m easily accessible trees, and were of enormous size, being evi- 

 dently, as Gould states, added to every year. We have known 

 them to attack a foal, and full grown kangaroos, two taking turns 

 in chasing them. The wing stretch in one we shot was 7 feet, 

 and weight 10 lbs ; another was 6 feet 11 inches. One of us saw 

 a tortoise in the grip of a wedge-tailed eagle, which when ap- 

 proached dropped the animal from a height. 



6. Haliastur sphenurus, Vieill. 

 Not a common bird. 



7. MiLVUS AFFINIS, Gld. 



VYe have known this bird to swoop down and carry away the 

 meat off a dish as it was being taken from the kitchen to the 

 house. 



8. LOPHOICTINIA isura, Gld. 



We have shot only one of these birds, at Guntawang. 



9. Elanus axillaris. Lath. 



In 1880, and again in 1886, large flocks of these birds came to 

 Guntawang in the autumn. They frequented the flats and low 

 foot hills covered with scrubby vegetation, living on lizards, and 

 "small deer" generally, but we have known them to kill quail : 

 they roosted at night in dead trees along the river bank. 



10. Falco melanogenys, Gld. 



Usually comes to the district in March and April. 



11. Falco hypoleucus, Gld. 



A specimen shot at Springfield by Mr. Garling, one near Mud- 

 gee by the late Mr. H. Thurston, and one by ourselves at Cullen- 

 bone, areall we have seen of this beautiful falcon. 



12. Falco lunulatus, Lath. 

 Rather rare. 



