174 Whitlock, Notes on Noyth-Western Birds. f ^^T" •, 



/ ~ List April 



There was no shade or shelter apart from an awning over our 

 boat and a small patch of mangroves a hundred yards away. 

 Skinning small birds under such conditions was difficult, and, 

 after trying various expedients, I finally did my work on board 

 the cutter, despite the strong wind. I tried camping ashore, and 

 erected a tent-fly furnished with mosquito netting, but this was 

 soon torn off by strong winds. Small black ants were in myriads, 

 and it was impossible to sleep on shore on their account. They 

 even invaded the cutter at low tide by running along the mooring 

 rope, which had to be kerosened to keep them away. Burning 

 the grass above their nests proved of little use. Mosquitoes and 

 sand-flies and other stinging insects were not much in evidence, 

 and gave no real discomfort. 



Barrow Island is a faunal reserve (see map), created chiefly 

 in the interest of the local kangaroo {Macro pus woodwardi), which 

 is said to be peculiar to the island. It appears to be holding its 

 own pretty well, as I nearly every day saw individuals, and on 

 one occasion put up six within a very short distance. Other 

 marsupials identified were Isoodon barrowensis, a small bandicoot 

 (I often saw one in the spinifex) ; Lagorochestes hirsittus, too, was 

 in the spinifex, but appeared to favour the low-lying tracts of 

 the interior. In a Sea-Eagle's nest were the remains of a small 

 wallaby with rather long, soft fur. I think this was Lagostro pints 

 fasciatiis (the banded wallaby). Fish were abundant in our little 

 harbour, and there was no difficulty in catching a large supply 

 with a small cast net. Turtle were plentiful, and my Japanese 

 boatmen brought many eggs back to the cutter. 



The following notes on Barrow Island birds may be of interest : — 



White-bellied Sea-Eagle {Halicsetus leucogaster). — Pairs observed as 

 we sailed along the coast in making our port. At almost the extreme 

 north-east point of the island I examined an eyrie. Both the parent 

 birds were sitting on rocks near, and a fully-fledged young bird was 

 seen a little distance away. The nest was on a rocky point a few feet 

 above high tide level, and very easy of access. It was a mere plat- 

 form of sticks lined with seaweed, and had probably been used for 

 years. 



White-headed Sea-Eagle {Haliastuv leucosternus). — Only a pair 

 seen, in a small tract of mangroves near our anchorage. 



Wedge-tailed Eagle {Uroa(Hus audax). — An immature bird seen 

 several times. 



Osprey (Pandion leucocephalus). — This was the most numerous of 

 the birds of prey in the Dampier Archipelago. Every island of 

 sufficient size had its pair or more. I examined about a dozen empty 

 nests. This species — and, in fact, all land-birds — had bred after the 

 torrential rains of last March. A large proportion of birds of this 

 species were immature, and it was usual to see one or two perched on 

 rocks or other points of vantage near the nesting-site. Usually, 

 when our cutter approached an island, one or two young Osprej's flew 

 off to meet us, and on one occasion a fine example actually perched 

 on the peak of our mainsail. Some nests were on i^ocky points, but 

 mox^e often they were on the summit of a sand-hill ; others, again. 



