iV/iSTS AXD EGGS OF AUSTHALIAN HIKDS 15 



11.— NisAETUS MonpHNOinEs, Gould. — (2) 

 LITTLE EAGLE 



Fif-urc — Gtnkl ; Hirtls ot .Viislralia, fol., vol. i., pi 2 



7iV/i(i«a-.— Cat. Birds Brit. Mus , vol. i., p 254 



Prtvioiis Descripliuns of Eggs.-Oon\A . Birds of .^iistr.-xli.i (i8.).S), also 

 Handbook, vol. i , p. 12 (1865); Ramsay: Free Linn. Soc, 

 N.S. Wales, vol. vii., p. 413 (1882) ; North ; Aiistn. Mus. Cat 

 pi. 2, fig. I (1889); Campbell; Proc. Ausln. Assoc, vol. vi., 

 p. 427 (1895). 



(t'ldj/rdjiliirti/ Disiri/iiii 1(1/1. — Aii-itraiia in gt^ncrai, and New Guinea. 



Nfst. — When constnicted by llic birds liieniselvcs it is somewliat large, 

 and is composed of sticks and twigs, lined inside with green leaves, and 

 situated in a large tree. Dimensions over all 30 inches bj' 19 inches iu 

 depth; egg cavitj', 8 inches across by ?> inciies deep. Sometimes th(> Eagle 

 takes possession of a deserted Raven's (or other large) nest. 



E;/(/.<<. — Clutch, one to two, more frequently one; round oval in sliape ; 

 shell, somewhat coarse or porous; surface lustreless; colour, dull hluish- 

 white, sparingly marked with blotches and dashes of light reddish-brown. 

 In some e.xamjjles the markings are absent oi- nearly so. Eggs from the 

 same nest frequently vary, one being marked, the other not. Dimensions 

 in inches of a proper pair: (1) 2-33 x 1-76, (2) 2-29 x 1-82; of odd 

 examples: (1) 2-21 x 1-77, (2) 2-16 x 1-77. (Plate 2.) 



Ohservdtiniis. — The Little Eagle is more an interior bird, and not so 

 often seen as the Wedge-tailed Eagle. Its total length is between 

 21 inches and 22 inches, with an expanse between the wing tips of about 

 50 inches. In general terms, the bird may be described thus : Upper 

 surface brown, under surface rich rufous, rendered beautiful by a dark 

 stripe down each feather ; cere, bill, and feet somewhat lead-coloured ; 

 and eyes reddish-hazel. 



Gould discovered this fine species in 1839, at Yarrundi, on the Hunter 

 River, New South Wales. He was led to the discovery by finding a nest 

 of the bird, containing a single egg, which was far incubated. He regretted 

 that, although he visited the place after killing the bird, all attempts to 

 procure its mate were (fortunately for the mate) entirely unsuccessful. 

 Tlie nest, Gould states, was of a large size, and was placed close to the 

 bole, about one-fourth of the height from the top of one of the highest 

 gum trees. The second specimen of the egg of this species received by 

 Gould was presented to him by the late Mr, S. White, of Adelaide, who 

 obtained it in the inteiior of South Australia. The eggs of the .same 

 species, subsequently described by Dr. Ramsay, were from Mr. Bennett's 

 collection ; while the examples of these rare eggs in mv ow^^ collection 

 were taken by the Messrs. Barnard, of Coomooboolaroo, Queensland, where 

 it has been ob.served that the principal breedinc; months for the Little 

 Eagle are from Aug^ist to October. 



