Barnard, Field Notes from Cap>e York. 21 



have hitherto been catalogued as separate species, breed together 

 freely in the Cape York district, and I am firmly convinced that the 

 grey and white birds belong to the same species. In all, I secured 

 8 clutches of eggs. In three cases only were both the birds grey ; 

 in two cases they were pure white, and in each other instance the 

 plumage of male and female differed in colour. In one instance I 

 took a clutch of eggs from a pair of grey birds, the female being shot 

 at the nest. The male remained in the vicinity for a week, and then 

 mated with a white female. The pair stayed about the nest, which 

 was eventually used. I secured the eggs, which differ considerably 

 in size and shape from the former set. I also secured the eggs of a 

 grey female whose mate was white. The birds are plentiful in the 

 locality, and my attention was first drawn to the mating of birds 

 of the two varieties by Mr. F. L. Jardine, of Somerset, who for several 

 years had noted the fact. In all instances both the grey and white 

 birds possessed fiery, blood-red eyes. I secured several skins. All 

 the eggs obtained were of a bluish-white colour and totally devoid 

 of markings. These birds always breed in forest country, the nest 

 being placed high up in large Melaleuca trees or Moreton Bay ash 

 {Eucalyptus). Nest, usual stick structure, lined with green eucalypt 

 leaves, and large for the size of the bird, which, when sitting, is in- 

 visible from the ground. The nests are generally about 2 feet in 

 diameter (outside measurement). 



These birds appear to gather most of their food from the scrubs, 

 as they are frequently seen flying over the tops of the tall scrub. 

 On several occasions I observed the male bringing to the nest the 

 small Fruit-Pigeon {Lamprotreron superba). Both sexes appear to 

 take their turn at incubating. 



Measurements of eggs : — Male grey and female white — (a) 2.02 x 

 1.42, (6) 1.93 X 1.43 ; both parents white — (a) 1.73 x 1.42, (b) 1.72 x 

 1.44 ; both parents grey — (a) 1.89 x 1.47, {b) 1.93 x 1.50, (c) 1.90 x 

 1.44, (a) 1.92 x 1.47, (6) 1.86 x 1.48, (c) 1. 91 x 1.51 ; male white and 

 female grey— (a) 1.92 x 1.5 1, (6) 1.94 x 1.41, (c) 1.97 x 1.43 ; both 

 parents grey (grey male afterwards mated with white female) — (a) 

 1.74 X 1.48, (fc) 1.89 X 1.56, (c) 1.87 X 1.53, (a) 1.79 x 1.47, (6) 1.77 X 

 1.47, (c) 1.80 X 1.47. 



Astur fasciatus. Goshawk.— Fairly common. Pair of birds ob- 

 served building a nest, which was deserted before the eggs were laid. 



Accipiter cirrhocephalus. Sparrow-Hawk. — Fairly common ; 

 several sets of eggs taken. From one pair of birds no fewer than 

 four sets of eggs were taken. The first set (3 eggs) was taken on 

 27th September, 1910. The birds at once commenced to build a 

 fresh nest in a tree a short distance away, and from this nest three 

 eggs were taken on 4th November, 19 10. The birds then rebuilt 

 a nest from which a set of White Goshawk's eggs had previously 

 been taken, and from this nest another set of three eggs was taken 

 on the 4th December, 1910. A fourth nest was built in an adjoining 

 tree, and four eggs were taken from it on 28th December, 1910. The 

 birds then left the locaUty. The pecuUarity about Hawks' eggs from 

 Cape York is their very Ught colour and the absence of blotches or 

 other markings. 



Uroaetus audax. Wedge-tailed Eagle. — Few specimens noticed on 

 the wing, but never settled. 



Haliaetus leucogaster. White-bellied Sea-Eagle.— Seen both on 



