Vol. V. 



1905 



j Berney, Birds of the Richmond District, N.Q. I 7 



showed up 2Tst November, and my next record is the middle of Decem- 

 ber, when a pair took up their quarters near my camp and remained 

 with us through the summer. I saw the last of them on 2nd April. 

 They must have been; considerably out of their latitude out here ; 

 their presence, I expect, was due to the very severe drought from which 

 we were suffering at the time. Waterholes in the Flinders that had 

 the reputation of being permanent were going dry, with the result that 

 large numbers of fish were dying — fish of 20 and 30 lbs. weight — and, 

 drifting to the shore, became stranded there, and I think food for the 

 Sea-Eagles, though of this latter I am not certain, as I never saw the 

 birds at the fish. Their cry resembles the nasal quack of a Wood-Duck 

 (Cfie)ionetla jubata). I never saw them away from the waterholes. 



Whistling Eagle {Haliastur sphenurus). — These are always here — 

 a common bird with us. They eat either offal or live prey, generally 

 the former, for, not being very quick on the wing, they are unable 

 to obtain the latter unless circumstances are very favourable. If not 

 smart, they are at least dexterous on the wing. On one occasion I 

 had an opportunity of seeing one of them swoop at a family of young 

 domestic Ducks (a few days old), and take two of them, one in each 

 talon. I could hardly credit my own eyes, but an hour later, hearing 

 a disturbance among the poultry, I was out just in time to see the 

 Eagle carry off two more, in spite of the Ducks' foster-mother — a 

 valiant old hen. Unfortunately I had no gun handy at the time. 



They fall very ready victims to baits put out for Eagles (Wedge- 

 tailed) and dingoes, which is a pity, as they do a lot of good clearing 

 up offal and killing grasshoppers. My earliest record regarding their 

 nesting is 13th May (1904), when I found a nest with one chick in a 

 mixed covering of down and feather, the former preponderating ; my 

 latest date is 28th August (1903), when I found two nests, each with 

 two eggs. 



The conspicuously spotted plumage of the immature bird is much 

 more handsome than that of the adult. 



I should say Whistling Eagles pair for life. 



A female in spotted plumage, but apparently full grown, gave the 

 following ineasurements : — Length 22^^, wing i6|, tail lO:^, tarsus 2f, 

 culmen I^\, cere f inches ; spread of wings, 4 ft. 5 in. Eggs in ovaries 

 very small. Bird poisoned, August, 1904. 



Kite {Milviis afjinis). — Next to the Crow, this is the most common 

 bird in the district. I seem to have but few notes concerning them, 

 on account, I expect, of their very commonness. My diary records 

 eggs and youngsters during February and March. 



Milvus affinis is the most useful scavenger we have about a home- 

 stead or camp, cleaning up and carrying away all offal (and it is in 

 the carrying away that it beats the Crow) or scraps, which would 

 otherwise attract flies, and cause sickness. At favourable feeding 

 grounds, such as slaughtcryards, they assemble in great numbers. 

 They are useful, too, as grasshopper destroyers. 



Black-breasted Buzzard (Gypoictinia melanosterna). — The Buzzard 

 is only seen occasionall}', generally singly, but at times in pairs, and 

 then almost invariably flying high in large circles. With one exception 

 I liave never seen them at rest. When seen on the wing a good guide 

 to ihcir identification is the conspicuous pure white patch in the centre 

 of the outstretched wing, which is formed by the bases of the first 

 six primaries. 



