84 BIRDS OF MARIA ISLAND. 



number of species whiclijCombmed with those concerning which 

 Signer Bernacchi, his kind host, gave him information and a 

 few additional species on which Mr. Morton has obligingly- 

 given me notes, make up a list of sixty-four. This is com- 

 paratively small, owing to the absence of the large family of 

 Procellariidoe (petrels) from the list, and the season of 

 observation occurring after the return migration of our 

 summer visitants. 



As is usual in framing distribution lists, I have taken the 

 opportunity of making remarks on the various species which 

 may be of value to ornithological readers of the paper at 

 Home, as well as to those who make a study of our 

 species here. 



The letters " L " and " B " in brackets indicate the 

 authority : my son or Signor Bernacchi, and the letter 

 "M" denotes that the curator of the Tasmanian Museum 

 supplied the information. 



ACCIPITRES. 



1. Urojetus audax, Latham. 



Found in the forests, and rather numerous. Three or four 

 have been seen together (B). The forest-clad range in this 

 island forms a secure home for this grand eagle, but its 

 destructiveness will lead to a great reduction in its numbers 

 as the island becomes populated. It is abundant in the 

 ranges of the opposite mainland. 



2. Hali^tus leucogastek, Gmelin. 



Found sparingly round the coast (B). My son saw one at 

 the settlement. 'Ihis widely-spread Sea Eagle is not so common 

 about the indented coast of the south of Tasmania as I should 

 have expected. During the last three years only three 

 examples have been seen by me in the Derwent. It builds 

 occasionally on the Actseon islands, on one of which Mr. 

 Joseph Graves found a nest in November, three years ago. 

 It was made on the ground among the rank vegetation and 

 low scrub. Gould draws attention to its habit of building on 

 the ground in the islands of Bass Straits where the structure 

 is formed of the " twigs and branches of the Barilla bush," 

 In Ceylon, where it is far moreabundaut than in these latitudes, 

 and where every inland tank of any size has one or two 

 pairs frequenting it, this eagle always builds on a lofty tree. 

 Gould speaks of the Sea Eagle being very common in 

 D'Entrecasteaux Channel. I know of one pair building- 

 there, but I fancy its numbers have decreased before the 

 efforts of the wild fowler. 



