234 A(;U1LIN.K. 



about the middle of September, and the youiiL;, usually two m number, leave the nest at tlie end 

 of E>ecember. At Yandembah Station, in the Lachlan iJistrict, I found a nest of Ilaliastiiy 

 sphcnnnts on the 25th Autjust, i8go, containing; two younL; ones able to tly. It was a most 

 unusual time of the year, for as a rule these birds do not commence nesting in this locality until 

 this month. On the 22nd September following I took two more eggs out of this nest, also two 

 eggs from a nest of MUvns affinis. Strange to say tlie eggs of the latter were larger than those 

 of Haliastur iplicininis." 



Dr. W. Macgillixray writes me as follows from Broken Hill, in South-western New South 

 Wales: — " HaUaiiuv splicuunii is freely dispersed throughout the district, breeding along all the 

 creeks and around the lakes, and Box flats of the scrub country. The general food of this tine 

 bird is the rabbit. The remains of this animal are to be found around every nest containing 

 young, and on all feeding platforms. This bird, when the Darling Kiver is in flood, and the 

 muddy water forces the hsh to swim near the surface, has frequently been noticed to swoop down 

 and pick them up with its claws, a habit which has earned it the name of ' Fish-Hawk,' bestowed 

 upon it by those that live along the river ; this habit must be regarded as an interesting instance 

 ofrevetsion. The nest is a large stick-built structure placed liigh up, but always on a strong 

 limb or fork, and is reverted to year after year by the bird, who relines it with green Gum leaves 

 before laying. It is not built up so much as that of the Little Eagle, presenting a flatter and 

 more compact appearance. The nests of the White-face, Chestnut-eared Finch and Yellow- 

 rumped Acanthiza are freijuently found built under this Eagle's nest, and often occupied at the 

 same time. The shrill whistling note is uttered when perched on a tree, or when soaring high 

 in the air. The nesting titne is September and the early part of (Jctober. I ha\e only one 

 record of eggs in August. The clutch is invariably two, rarely three. I have two records of 

 three being taken during nine years collecting in this district. Built into several nests on 

 Yalcowinna Cteeic last year were the remains of Crows. I had an idea that it was intended to 

 act as a scare-crow, to keep those audacious thieves away from the eggs. Being a season of 

 drought and dead sheep, crows were consequently plentiful, and as it had not been observed 

 before or since it seemed more than a mere coincidence. 



" Several old nests were in the Gums along a creek, and during June and |uly the Inrds were 

 often flushed from them. They evidently found them a much more comfortable resting place 

 and less e.xposed to the intensely cold winds that prevail here at this time of the year than a 

 bare branch. No attempt has yet been made to renew the nests. These birds were often seen 

 during the winter months along the creek's and out in the open. Gn 30th September, igoi, I 

 visited a nest which had been guarded by a pair of birds for a month past, and found that 

 the nest, which was rather flat and platform like, had been built up round the sides with fresh 

 twigs, and the egg cavity relined with green leaves. It contained one egg nearly pure white, 

 with one or two slight markings only; this I left, and returning three days later took- a pair of eggs 

 from the nest. The second egg was blotched and spotted all over." 



Mr. G. A. Keartland, uf Melbourne, Victoria, has sent me the following notes : — " During the 

 wanderings of tlie Horn Scientific Expedition in Central Australia, a pair of Whistling Eagles 

 ( Hitliastiir iphcmu'iis) were seen at almost every water hole passed. They seem to vie with the 

 Crows in their onslaughts on dead carcases, and only attack living prey when pressed by hunger. 

 In North-western Australia I saw one attacking a flock of Rose-breasted Cockatoos, and if 

 undisturbed would no doubt soon ha\e killed one. Near Melton, X'ictoria, they are numerous 

 in the rabbit infested country, and watch the trappers in order that they may feast on the entrails 

 of the rabbits killed." 



Dr. A. AI. Morgan writes me as follows from Adelaide, South Australia : — " During 

 a trip made from Port Augusta to Mount Gunson, in July and August, 1900, Haliastuy sphcnnrus 

 was a common bird, associating with MHviis ajfiiiis in seeking offal about slaughtering-places. 



