RAPTORES. 21 



itself on the surface of the water or be cast on the banks ; 

 and when I visited the colony in 1839, it was nowhere more 

 common or more generally to be seen than over the harbour 

 of Port Jackson. Its flight is buoyant and easy, and it fre- 

 quently soars to a great altitude, uttering at the same time a 

 shrill whistling cry, from which circumstance it has obtained 

 from the colonists the name of the Whistling Hawk. 



The nest, which is constructed of sticks and fibrous roots, 

 is frequently built on the topmost branches of the lofty Casu- 

 arincd growing by the sides of creeks and rivers. The eggs, 

 which are laid during the months of November and December, 

 are usually two in number, but sometimes only one ; they are 

 two inches and three lines long by one inch and nine lines 

 broad, and are of a bluish white slightly tinged with green, 

 the few brown markings with which they are varied being very 

 obscure and appearing as if beneath the surface of the shell. 

 I once found a nest of this species in the side of which had 

 been constructed that of the beautiful little Finch called Ama- 

 dina Lathami, and both birds sitting on their respective eggs 

 close beside each other ; and both would doubtless have reared 

 their progenies had I not robbed the nests of their contents to 

 enrich my collection. 



The Whistling Eagle, which is allied to the Kites, presents 

 the usual difference in the size of the sexes, but in respect 

 to colour no variation is observable ; the plumage of the young, 

 on the contrary, presents a striking contrast to that of the 

 adult, being striated, and rendering the bird far handsomer 

 during the first autumn of its existence. 



Head, neck, and all the under surface light sandy brown, each 

 feather margined with a darker colour ; feathers of the back and 

 wings brown, margined with greyish white ; primaries blackish 

 brown ; tail greyish brown, rather long, and rounded at the 

 end ; cere and bill brownish white, gradually becoming darker 

 towards the tip ; legs bluish white ; irides hazel. 



Common also in New Caledonia (Gurney). 



