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THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM MAGAZINE. 



Nest of the Wedge-tailed EaSle. 



[Photo— C.Biirrett. 



We should save our eagles and other 

 birds of piey from the fate that is over- 

 taking their " cousins " in the British 

 Isles. Happily, in Australia, we do 

 not pamper partridge and pheasant 

 against the " Opening Day." Game- 

 keepers as a class, I believe, are largely 

 responsible for the decrease of hawks 

 and owls in England. In the army I 

 met one of these game preservers, a 

 })ulky sergeant-major. I argued with 

 him in vain. '" They re vermin, are 

 "awks and owls,"" he declared. 



On the train trip across Australia I 

 saw scores of huge Eagle-hawks, flying 

 low, soaring, or perched on stunted 

 bushes. The Nullarbor Plain, where 

 dingoes roam and rabbits are not 

 unknown, had some of the hunting birds 

 to show to weary travellers. Observing 

 wild life from a carriage window is one 

 way of increasing the interest of the 

 trans-x\.ustralian trip. 



One of the Eagle-hawk's victims. 



[Photo.— r. Barrett. 



