yo MiLLlGAN, Field Observations on IV. Australian Birds. [ i^f "oct. 



ornithological point of view I regarded the time as wasted. A 

 description of all these would doubtless prove interesting matter 

 to many, but it is, of course, outside the scope of an ornitho- 

 logical paper. 



My second journey, at Christmas time, was fruitful, inasmuch 

 as I was fortunate enough to witness the " Gnou " close up one 

 of its immense nesting mounds, and also to secure three ad- 

 ditional specimens of the new Sphennra. 



Appended is a list of the birds secured or seen, with relative 

 notes and observations : — 



Uroaetus audax (Wedge-tailed Eagle). — First trip. — These were 

 observed frequently soaring and circling at great heights. An old nest was 

 seen at Cowaramup Brook. Second trip. — Whilst walking through the 

 peppermint belt 1 disturbed one in repose. By the iron-black plumage I 

 took him to be a male adult. The aboriginal name is " Walgil." 



HiERAClDEA BERIGORA (Striped Brown Hawk). — First trip. — These birds 

 were fairly numerous. Evidently they had begun to build, for one passed 

 me with a long twig. The twig was carried under, and parallel with, the 

 body. It is locally known as the " Chicken Hawk." The name given it 

 by the aborigines of the south-west is " Don Don." 



Pandion leucocephalus (Osprey). — First trip. — Saw birds several 

 times along the line of coast hills ; probably they were the one pair of birds. 

 I inspected a nest at Cape Mentelle, which contained two eggs, one of 

 which I took, and presented to the Perth Museum. The eggs were 

 beautifully marked with irregular blotchings and splashes of rich sepia. I 

 learned locally that it was the same nest which Mr. Editor Campbell photo- 

 graphed some 1 1 years ago. The nest is a large structure of twigs and 

 roots, and measures, roughly speaking, 3 feet high, 3 feet in diameter at 

 top, and about 6 feet at base. Collections of fish bones were present on the 

 outer rim of the nest cavity, as also a piece of the " pig-face " mesembry- 

 anthemum in full growth. Owing to the joint efforts and representations 

 of myself and Mr. B. H. Woodward, the director of the Perth Museum, the 

 nest has been placed under the protection of the Margaret River Cave 

 Warden. It would be interesting to know if the birds who now use the 

 nest are the same pair as used it in Mr. Campbell's time. 



CORVUS CORONOIDES (Crow), — These birds were very numerous, espe- 

 cially in the karri forests near the ocean. A local notion prevails that the 

 bird can only count two, and the reason given for such, although ingenious, 

 is hardly logical. The result is arrived at by the following alleged facts : — 

 If one person of a party of three directly approach the bird to within a 

 reasonaialy unsafe limit to the bird, he will fly away ; similarly if the second 

 person, together with the first, so approach. If, however, the third person, 

 in concert with the other two, approach, the third making but a slight 

 deviation (the two remaining stationary), he can walk straight to the bird 

 without its moving. Assuming these facts to be correct, the matter appears 

 to be one affecting " scope of vision " rather than " notation." 



The Western Australian bird is true to tradition in that he is abnormally 

 cunning. The following ruse, in securing a specimen, has been adopted 

 with success : — Having observed a Crow in the vicinity, set a light to a 

 " blackboy " (the local name of the grass-tree), and then conceal yourself. 

 As the wreaths of greenish-coloured smoke ascend, carrying with them as 

 they do a strong aromatic resinous smell, the bird will quickly call and 

 steathily approach from tree to tree the vegetable pyre, when he may easily 

 be shot. The aborigines of the south-west call the bird " Kwaggum." As 

 in the east, these birds have marked frugivorous prochvities, and show a 

 distinct partiality for Cape gooseberries and figs. 



