449 



Haliastur sphenurus, Vieillot (Whistling Eagle). 



These birds were numerous along the Cooper, and were 

 found breeding in several localities. 



Total length. Expanse of wings. 



September 22 tf 520 mm. 1,358 mm. 



September 22 9 553 mm. 1,390 mm. 



Milvus korschun affinis, Gould (Allied Kite). 



At our camps during the journey up the Strzelecki Creek 

 these birds were very numerous. No sooner were the camels 

 unloaded than the kites put in an appearance, and became 

 very bold, but at the sight of a gun they were off. Some 

 birds showed little if any fork in the tail ; the only female 

 taken had the tail quite square, and plumage very mottled. 

 Six specimens were taken; measurements as follows: — 









Total length. 



Expanse of wings 



September 



25 



6 



539 mm. 



1,302 mm. 



September 



26 



6 



514 mm. 



1,283 mm. 



September 



27 



d 



521 mm. 



1,283 mm. 



September 



27 



6 



521 mm. 



1,290 mm. 



October 4 





c* 



508 mm. 



1,243 mm. 



October 6 





9 



508 mm. 



1,271 mm. 



These birds were lost sight of upon the last part of the 

 journey. During my Central Australian Expedition, 1913 

 (see Proc. Roy. Soc. S. Austr., vol. xxxviii.), only one bird 

 was seen, and during my Far North-west Expedition, 1914 

 (see Proc. Roy. Soc. S. Austr., vol. xxxix.), not a single 

 bird came under notice. 



Gypoictinia melanosterna, Gould (Black-breasted Buzzard). 



Several of these fine birds were seen during the course of 

 the expedition ; they were mostly soaring very high. One 

 day when following up the Strzelecki Creek my attention was 

 drawn to a pair of these birds circling round a dead tree, and 

 upon making investigations found they had a large nest 

 constructed with sticks. It was placed about 40 feet from 

 the ground : while I stood underneath one of the birds 

 alighted on the edge of the nest, and upon climbing up found 

 the nest was just lined ready for the eggs. 



Ieracidea berigora, Vigors and Horsfield (Brown Hawk). 



This is the interior form of this bird. All birds seen 



were of the uniform reddish-brown colouration. They were 



found over the whole of the country traversed, and were 



breeding throughout the months of September and October. 



p 



