166 



No. 5. Aquila audax (Wedge-tailed Eagle). 

 Although in other parts of Australia these Eagles are found of" 

 various shades of colour — from very light brown to neary black, 

 I never saw a light-coloured one throughout our journey. In 

 crossing the desert they were frequently seen pursuing the little 

 wallabies so common on the sandhills. They generally hunted in 

 couples. Soaring overhead, until their keen eyes detected their 

 victim, they descended with unerring aim upon it. Several of 

 their nests were seen in the desert gums on the sandhills, not 

 more than 20 feet from the ground. 



No. 6. Haliaetus leucogasteb (White-billed Sea Eagle). 



Along the North- West Coast, and on the rivers, these noble 

 birds were seen. They are not at all as particular in their diet 

 as many suppose, but will devour wallabies, ducks, or lizards as 

 readily as they do fish. Mr. T. Carter informed me that he had 

 taken their eggs, near Point Cloates, from a nest in which the 

 remains of several wallabies were found. 



No. 7. Haliastur girrenera (Red-backed Fish Eagle). 



Several of these birds were seen along the course of the Fitzroy 

 and Margaret Rivers, but owing to their shyness I was unable to 

 obtain specimens. They were invariably found perched on high 

 trees overhanging the water. 



No. 8. Haliastur sphenurus (Whistling Eagle). 



Greatly to my surprise, these birds were very rare. At 

 Quanbun Station, on the Fitzroy River, two of them kept up a 

 constant attack on the Rosebreasted and other Cockatoos which 

 came to drink at the swamp. Along the rivers a few more were 

 seen. 



No. 9. MiLvus AFPiNis (Allied Kite). 



These tropical scavengers were not seen until the Fitzroy River 

 was approached early in November, but on our arrival at the 

 telegraph station at the Crossing they were very numerous. All 

 along the road from Derby to the Margaret River they may be 

 seen in hundreds. During the heat of the day they seek shelter 

 from the sun amongst the branches of the various trees, but both 

 morning and evening they are either on the wing soaring over- 

 head or seeking food on the ground. Nothing in the shape of 

 carrion seems to come amiss to them. They are very tame, and 

 are useful in clearing away the otfal when cattle are slaughtered. 

 They seldom attack poultry, and consequently are not molested. 

 Grasshoppers form the chief portion of their food. They build 

 their loose stick nests in the Baobab-trees during March and 

 April. 



