Wll 



Birds. 109 



Attached to the drawings of birds is a list of the species, 

 ith the following announcement, probably in the handwriting 

 of Mr. James Lee himself: "This Catalogue was wrote by 

 Dr. Latham, author of the 'General Synopsis of Birds.'" 



The following is a list of the Drawings as determined by 

 Latham himself, and bearing his handwriting : — 



1. Bold Vulture, Lath., Gen. Syn., Suppl. ii., p. 10, no. 10 

 (1802). 

 Vultur audax, Lath., Ind. Orn., Suppl., p. ii. (1801). 



Latham copies Watling's original note about the native name 

 being " Boora-morang " (Watling writes it " Boo-ro-ma-rang "), 

 and also about the bird sometimes attacking natives, but he says 

 not one word about Watling or James Lee in the text of his 

 book, nor can I so far find any evidence of his giving credit to 

 either of them as the source of his information. 



The bird is drawn holding a fish under its foot, and might be 

 mistaken for a young Raliae/us leucogaster, but on comparing 

 the sketch with specimens, it is evidently intended for a 

 Wedge-tailed Eagle, as is also shewn by its feathered le^s. 

 Latham says that " the size of this bird is uncertain." Watling 

 generally gives the size of his birds, but on this picture he gives a 

 scale, which shows that the specimen was about three feet lono-. 



2. Pondicherry Eagle. Qu. new species. Latham, Gen. 

 Syn., ii., p. 32. 



Latham refers to Watling's two drawings of the White- 

 breasted Brahminy Kite, and as before appropriates his notes 

 without stating his authority. Thus : " A bird seemingly of this 

 last kind [Pondicherry Eagle] is found in New Holland, in which 

 the head, neck, and belly are pure white, without any streaks." 

 On Watling's plate Latham has written : " Probably this should 

 be made a distinct species." Watling's note is as follows : " The 

 stomach of the bird when taken was full of egg-shells." 



3. Ditto. This second picture of the Brahminy Kite has 

 the following note by Watling: "The Natives call this Bird 

 Girrenera. This hawk lives a good deal on Fish, which most of 

 that genus do that inhabit New South Wales, where there are 

 several varieties, the likeness of this kind is strongly imitated " 

 [i.e. that he has made a good portrait of the bird]. Latham had 

 evidently seen the pictures and notes of Watling when he wrote 

 the " Supplement" to the " General Synopsis." 



4. Painting of an Elanus, with the following note by the 

 artist: "Natural size. The head of this drawing is rather too 



