Vol. X. 



IQIO 



J Campbell and White, Birds on Capvicorn Gvoitp. IQ^ 



Birds Identified on the Capricorn Group during 

 Expedition of R.A.O.U,, 8th to 17th October, 1910. 

 By a. J. Campbell, C.M.B.O.U., and Capt. S. A. White. 



White-bellied Sea-Eagle {Haliadus leucogaster). 



Each island visited seemed to be the abode of a pair of Sea- 

 Eagles. Eyries with young were observed and photographed on 

 Mast-Head and Erskine Islands. In the former the nest was in a 

 large Pisonia tree, which was about 60 feet high. The Eagles, when 

 hovering over an island, particularly in the mornings, made Goose- 

 like cackling notes. They did not seem to prey on the birds of the 

 locality, but on sea-snakes and fish. 



Two nests were discovered on North-West Island, both in 

 Pisonia trees, at either end of the island. One was situated on 

 the highest tree on the island — one of great girth and few limbs. 

 The nest was a huge collection of boughs and sticks, and contained 

 fully-fledged young, which in colour much resemble the Wedge- 

 tailed Eagle, and could easily be mistaken for that bird. The other 

 nest ako contained young. The old birds were very quiet, and 

 sat by the nest, and allowed one to approach the base of the tree 

 before taking flight. At dusk every evening these fine birds 

 visited the part of the island on which the camp was situated, 

 and would swoop down amongst the Pisonias, from which the 

 Noddy Terns would fly out in clouds ; it was always too dark to 

 make sure if the Eagles were in pursuit of the Terns, but we 

 supposed this was the case, otherwise why should they come there 

 at that time — i.e., when the Terns had congregated from the sur- 

 rounding sea. 



Pied Crow-Shrike {Strepeva gyacnlina). 



As in the case of the Sea-Eagles, a pair of this Strepera ap- 

 peared to occupy one or other of the principal islands. On Mast- 

 Head a pair occasionally approached the camp, and it was pleasant, 

 at times, to hear their loud, familiar calls, or sometimes a clear, 

 single whistle-like note, especially at early morn (10 minutes to 

 5 o'clock). On first landing at North-West Island we heard a 

 very full liquid note coming from the dense scrub, which re- 

 sembled the call of some Honey-eater, but much surprise was 

 expressed next day to find that the call was that of the Pied Crow- 

 Shrike. A colony, apparently, of these birds had taken up their 

 abode on North-West Island, and had brought up young for many 

 years. During the heat of the day these birds kept to the cool 

 shade of the high Pisonias, but in the earlj^ morning and evening 

 they frequented the coast-line. The Strepera family have a strong 

 odour as a rule, but the birds inhabiting the islands had a decided 

 musky odour, resembling that of the oMutton-Bird — a circumstance 

 worth following up, for one reason. Birds, for instance, collected 

 on Kangaroo Island (S.A.) did not possess this peculiar smell. 

 Did the Crow-Shrikes obtain their Petrel perfume by some con- 

 nection with their (the Mutton-Birds') burrows ? 



