CHENEBY ^' MORGAN— Birds of Rivers Murray ^ Darling. 47 



current. Fair numbers of nests were met with at Kulkyne, 

 on a flooded lake, and in a similar situation at Mooiua. They 

 seem to be the earliest layers, breeding in October and Novem- 

 ber. Many of the birds are black and white, but the mature 

 birds are ail black. 



('atoptroprlivunu.s conspicillatus (Pelican) — Common on 

 the inland lakes and large sheets of water, and less commonly 

 seen in the rivers themselves. It does not breed in the district. 



Circus approximans gouldi (Swamp Hawk) — Uncommon. 

 A few birds were seen hawking over wheat crops in the Ren- 

 mark district. 



Jlroaetus auda.r (Wedge-tailed Eagle) — . Plentiful, 

 especially away from the river frontage. They are early 

 breeders, and become very tame where they are not molested. 

 Opinions are divided here, as elsewhere, as to the damage done 

 to lambs by this bird. 



HaUastur sphenurus (Whistling Eagle) — The commonest 

 bird of prey in the district. They may be seen in numbers 

 along the Darling and Murray Rivers, and also around all the 

 inland Lakes, and the "box'' timber of the anabranch. They 

 breed in the high river gums. 



Falco longlpennis (Little Falcon) — Not a common bird, 

 but odd pairs are to be seen occasionally. Tn October, 1919, 

 a nest was seen with the bird sitting, in an unclimbable gum- 

 tree, on the Darling, near Cuthero Station. 



Falco hypoleuGus (Grey Falcon)— A single pair seen on 

 the Murray, ne^r Chowilla Station, in 1917. 



Irniciflcfi brrigorn — Not plentiful. They keep mostly 

 to the mallee country, and seldom come near the rivere; a num- 

 ber of pairs were seen on our trip of October. 1919, and although 

 they varied somewhat in colour, no really light-coloured birds 

 were seen, and most of them were quite dark. 



Crrchnrh cciichroiflcft (Kestrel) — Always to be seen but 

 more common in the back country. They nest in the hollow 

 mallee. using the same hollow, year after year. 



Spilofjlnuj' boobook (Boobook Owl) — Fairly common on 

 the Murray and anabranch frontages. They have not been 

 met with in the back country. 



Tyto alba delicatula (Delicate Owl) — A pair was seen with 

 fledged young ones at Avoca Station. 



(To be continued). 



