426 



Notofalco subniger (Black Falcon). 



A fine specimen was seen while we were ascending Ellery 

 Creek. This was the only occasion on which it was met with. 



Ieracidea berigora (Striped Brown Hawk). 



This is a common bird throughout the central region; 

 we found them nesting all through the country. Took fresh 

 eggs in July, August, September, and October, and there 

 were young nearly ready to fly in nests observed during the 

 same months of the year. I see no variation between this 

 bird and those we collected west of Port Augusta. Diet seems 

 to be chiefly lizards, insects, and an occasional small or young 

 bird. 



Cerchneis cenchroides (Nankeen Kestrel). 



Found all through the central regions; thinly dispersed 

 all over the country. We found them nesting in hollow 

 spouts of the red gum which grows alone; the watercourses. 

 Diet consists of insects, small reptiles, and an occasional small 

 mammal. 



Family STRIGIDA 

 Spiloglaux boobook marmorata (Marbled Owl). 



These birds were often heard calling at night, but all our 

 efforts to secure a specimen were in vain. Even the natives 

 failed to secure one. 



Family TYTONID^S. 

 Tyto alba delicatula (Masked Owl). 



Found all through the country, and their weird, screech- 

 ing calls were often heard at night. 



Family OACATOID^E. 

 Calyptorhynchus banksii stellatus (Red-tailed Cockatoo). 



Met with for the first time a little south of Idracowra, 

 on the Finke, after which hardly a day passed without seeing 

 a flock pass over. They move about at times in large flocks 

 up to several hundreds; procure most of their food on the 

 ground. "When they come in to water, night and morning, 

 they make a most terrific noise. We have heard them flying 

 round the camp and calling loudly long after dark. They 

 seem to eat the seeds of the desert Oak (Casuarina Decaisneana ) 

 at times. The female has a lighter bill than the male, and 

 the feathers about the face and neck spotted with yellow ; 

 tail feathers also mottled with same colour. This, I believe, 

 has been considered the immature phase up to this by some 

 ornithologists. I am quite sure, from the large number dis- 

 sected, that the lighter-coloured bill and yellow markings on 

 tail and body are characteristics of the female. Their call is 

 like other members of the genus — a most discordant screech. 



