iS6 BIRDS OF THE DISTRICT OF GEELONG 
late summer and autumn months. One February, 
near the Yarram Creek, Marcus Hill, I saw about 
twenty-five of these cumbersome Hawks in about 
half a mile's journey. It is possible they were after 
poisoned rabbits ; they are great eaters of carrion, 
and rarely do harm to anything living, unless it be 
insects. They are inoffensive, sluggish creatures. 
The first I ever remember seeing was at Airey's 
Inlet in the year 1890. A sheep had been slaughtered, 
and doubtless the bird had had its share of pickings. 
Unluckily for it, I was armed at the time with my 
first (and last) pea-rifle, and the sight of a large and 
strange Hawk perched conveniently on a dead gum 
prompted a protracted stalk under all available cover 
till I deemed myself within practicable range. To 
my amazement, the bird entirely disregarded my first 
shot (safety miss), and sat stolidly on till the fourth 
or fifth bullet laid him low. Instead of the expected 
praise for slaying a verminous Hawk, I received from 
my host (who understood and loved birds) a well- 
merited reproof for killing so useful a creature. 
It is quite rarely, despite the name, that one hears 
this bird whistle ; I have heard it twice only, and 
each time the bird was near its nest. It is a ringing, 
melodious series of notes in a quickly ascending scale. 
The nest is built in a tall tree in that kind of country 
which at all times the birds most frequent, namely, 
partly cleared forest or the timbered base of hills 
bordering a plain ; it is an immense structure, visible, 
if the view be uninterrupted, for at least half a mile. 
