30 MORSE, Birds of the Morcc District. 



1st July 



Falco peregrinus. Peregrine Falcon. — Fortunately for the Ducks 

 this slaughterer dees not often appear here. I have seen only three, 

 two of which were amusing themselves Duck killing. I recorded in 

 "The Emu" some years ago the fact that Mr. Mawhiney and myself 

 witnessed a single bird kill, apparently only for sport, twelve Ducks 

 in about half an hour. 



Falco hypoleucus. Grey Falcon. — A rare visitor. The only time 1 

 have seen them was seven years ago, when I came across a little band 

 of five amusing themselves chasing Pigeons. 



Falco subniger. Black Falcon. — When the Quail are plentiful, a 

 fair number of these birds come to the district. I have only two re- 

 cords of their breeding here. Mr. Mawhiney has twice taken eggs 

 from the same tree, which was probably the same bird on each 

 occasion. 



Falco longipennis. Little Falcon. — Thmly distributed all over the 

 district. Quite recently I saw one attempt to catch a Black- breasted 

 Plover, but was very surprised to note that the Plover, owing to its 

 wondei-ful dodging, got right away. 



leracidea berigora. Brown Hawk. — Numerous. The sntak-thief 

 among the Hawk tribe. Have several times seen one stealing young 

 birds from the nests, more especially young Grallinas. 



leracidea occidentalis. Striped Brown Hawk. — I often see birds which 

 are apparently referable to this race in company with the former 

 kind. 



Cerchneis cenchroides. Nankeen Kestrel. — Numerous. Nests in 

 hollows or just as readily in an old nest of a Raven or Magpie. 



Ninox boobook. Bcobook Owl. — Rare. I do not remember ever 

 having seen one, but can occasionally hear them. 



Ninox connivens. Winking Owl. — Rare. Last winter one took up 

 his quai-ters close to the house in a bilga tree, his retreat being dis- 

 closed by the leg of a chicken found lying beneath; and on the follow- 

 ing evening he made another attempt at a poultry supper. So very 

 reluctantly, and acting on instructions from a higher authority, 1 

 brought the gun into use. 



Tyto alba. Barn-Owl. — After a succession of good seasons, there is 

 usually a plague of mice, at which times these Owls are numerous. 

 Although seldom seen in daylight, numbers are flushed from the road- 

 side when one is motoring at night. Their screech is distinctly dis- 

 agreeable, and, if heard in large cities, the police force would be 

 searching for murderers. 



Trichoglossus nioluccanus. Blue Mountain Lorikeet. — A rare visi- 

 tor; occasionally a little band can be seen feeding on the blossoms 

 of the Moreton Bay ash. 



Trichoglcssus chlorolepidotus. Scaly-breasted Lorikeet. — I have 

 one record in my note book of a visit paid by a small band of these 

 in 1917, and like the previous birds they were feeding on the blossom 

 of the Moreton Bay ash. 



Glossopsitta concinna. Musk Lorikeet. — Plentiful at times in the 

 eastern f|uarter, when one of their natural foods is in abundance — 

 the native apple tree (Angophora) blossom. 



Cacatua galerita. White Cockatoo. — Fairly numerous in spring 

 along the Gwydir and Barwon rivers, where they nest in the big trees. 



Cacatua ros4>icapilla. Galah. — Very plentiful through all the dis- 

 trict. 



Loptolophus holiandirus. Cockatiel. — In good seasons in countless 

 numbers. 



