22 Barnard, Field Notes from Cape York. [isfXiy 



the coast and inland, resting on the trees. Old nest observed in a 

 tree on the side of a hill in the scrub. 



Haliastur sphenurus. Whistling Eagle. — Fairly plentiful, and 

 often noticed on the ground, feeding on bandicoots. 



Gypoictinia melanosternum. Black-breasted Buzzard. — A pair 

 observed on several occasions, flying low over the tree-tops. 



Baza subcristata. Crested Hawk. — One pair observed early in the 

 season, and later was noticed feeding three large young birds. The 

 only pair observed. 



Falco lunulatus. Little Falcon. — Only one pair observed. 



Hieracidea orientalis. Brown Hawk. — Only a few observed. One 

 nest was found on 7th October, 19TO, and contained a single egg, 

 which was heavily incubated. 



Pandion leucocephalus. Osprey. — Observed both on the coast and 

 inland. Fairly common. One bird observed on the ground feeding 

 on a wliite Nutmeg-Pigeon. 



Ninox peninsularis. Cape York Owl. — These birds are numerous 

 both in forest and in scrub (their note exactly resembling that of 

 Ninox connivens), and were breeding freely. Unfortunately, each of 

 the nests found contained a pair of young birds, with a single ex- 

 ception, where there was only one nestling. When the female is 

 in the hollow the male roosts in the branches of an adjoining tree, 

 and on observing a person passing utters a loud growling note, thus 

 drawing attention to the tree containing the nest. On one occasion 

 I observed one of these Owls roosting in the branches of a tree and 

 holding in its claw a small Fruit-Pigeon (L. siiperba). On being 

 flushed it dropped the Pigeon, which appeared to have just been killed. 

 This was the only Owl observed, but the note of another species was 

 frequently heard at night — a note resembling that of Strix delicatula. 

 These birds breed very early, all the nests containing young by the 

 end of September. 



Trichoglossus septentrionalis. — Great numbers seen. Several birds, 

 out of numbers shot, were in very poor plumage, while others were 

 breeding. Found several nests, each containing two young birds, 

 and one with clutch of two eggs, on 22nd October, 19 10. Measure- 

 ments — (a) i.o X 0.84, (b) 0.96 X 0.84. This species breeds in holes 

 in Eucalyptus and Melaleuca trees, in forest country. Nests placed 

 from I foot to 18 inches down in a horizontal limb. Habits 

 similar to that of Trichoglossus novce-hollandice (of which it is the 

 Northern representative) ; feed on the blossom trees. 



Microglossus aterrimus. Palm-Cockatoo. — These birds were 

 nowhere plentiful. They breed in the forest country, and appear to 

 feed in the scrub, on the kernels of large fruits and grubs chopped 

 out of rotten wood. When not breeding they are generally seen 

 in flocks of from 3 to 7. The first nest was found on 27th September, 

 1910, and contained a young bird about 10 days old. From the 

 same hole I later on took two clutches, one egg each — the first on 

 i8th December, 1910, and the other on 15th January, 191 1. Two 

 other sets were taken — one on 29th September, 1910, and the other 

 on 19th December, 1910. These Cockatoos select upright, large, 

 hollow spouts, the eggs being placed at depths varying from 2 to 

 8 feet from entrance of hole, and from 10 to 50 feet from the ground. 



