MrGILF—E'igUs and Hrnvkn. 65 



Eagles and Hawks. 



— Bv .J. Neil Mi-(Jili), K.A.O.U.— 



Much has been written in favor of givin*:; protection to the 

 Wedye tailed P]ay;le, commonly known as the "Eagle Hawk," 

 but little has been done to pnt forward the claims of the Whist- 

 ling Kagle, Little Eagle. IJrown Hawk, Eork-tailed Kite, Kes- 

 trel, and (joshawk. 



The writer, from observations gained through a life long 

 exjierience with Eagles and Hawks in the interior of South Aus- 

 tralia, ventures to give a few facts about them in the hope that 

 those peisons not as conversant with the habits of these birds 

 may be in a ]>osition to weigh their respective merits. 



In using the word Eagle, it must be clearly understood that 

 it applies only to the AVedge-tailed Eagle. 



The Eagle is a noble bird, and is recognised as the largest 

 true Eagle in the world. 



In the interior it is very numerous, e.specially during the 

 lambing season, when it congregates in large numbers, and at 

 times, as many as forty are to be seen in the air within one's 

 vision. 



Before the introduction of sheep and rabbits, the Eagl ' 

 must have subsisted uj»on kangaroo, wallaby, other small mam- 

 mals, or birds. Even now, when the rabbit is a curse to the 

 country, it is not unusual to see a paii- of Eagles ca])tnie a 

 young kangaroo or wallaby. 



Some jjeople, in advocating protection for this bird, claim 

 that it kills rabbits in such numbers that a great heap of bones, 

 etc.. is accumulated under its nest and feeding jdatform. It is 

 not advisable to accept this as a correct deduction. The Eagle 

 secures the greater i)ortion of these rabbits from dogs, foxes, 

 cats, and hawks. 



All bushmen know that it wil follow a dog. fox, or cat some 

 distance to secure what it kills. When one of these animals 

 has made a capture, often a rabbit, the Eagle will swoop down, 

 causing it to clear off, leaving its intended food; this the Eagle 

 usually carries away. Many a wild-dog or dingo has been 

 caught by myself or employees, simply through the knowledge 

 of this habit. When Eagles are seen slowly flying along at a 

 little distance from the ground, it can be taken as a sure sign 

 that a dog. fox or cat is being followed. As a proof of this, 

 the following instances are given. When out hunting- for a 

 dingo that had caused considerable damage to the station flock, 

 five eagles were observed flying lazily, close to the ground. This 



