THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
this Eagle cannot be condemned for sheep-killing as a habit. Though this 
species ranges from India, where it is common through the Islands, and covers 
the whole of Australia and Tasmania, subspecies have not yet been definite^ 
determined. 
When Hartert received specimens from the Northern Territory of 
Australia he catalogued: ad., juv,,” then gave five numbers and 
wrote : “ All these specimens are very large. Perhaps there is a larger race 
of the White-bellied Sea-Eagle in Australia ! ” 
As no measurements are given, nor does Hartert state from what locality 
the specimens came with which he made comparisons, I cannot give any 
conclusion. 
In the Nov. Zool., Vol. XVIII., p. 248, 1912, I differentiated such birds 
as being paler than birds from East Australia, but longer series does not 
advise the present admission of the Western form. These birds seem to vary 
locally, but, so far, I have been unable to fix subspecies to localities of 
any extent. There is little difference in size from different localities in 
Australia, though now and then larger and smaller specimens are measured : 
moreover, there does not seem to be the usual disparity in sizes between the 
sexes usually met with in this group. 
Nevertheless, a sufficient series of properly sexed adults might enable the 
fixation of races, and on this account I have not included in the synonymy 
the multitude of extra-limital references available, but have onty given those 
of importance to Australian students. Though I do not admit the western 
form as a valid subspecies, I give separately the notes dealing with that, as 
it is quite at present a problematical race. 
Heartland {Trans. Roy. Soc. S.A., Vol. XXII., p. 166, 1898), wrote : 
“ Along the North-west Coast, and on the rivers, these noble birds were seen. 
They are not at all particular in their diet, as many suppose, but will devour 
wallabies, ducks, or lizards as readily as they do fish. Mr. T. Carter informed 
me that he had taken their eggs, near Point Cloates, from a nest in which the 
remains of several wallabies were found.” Mr. Tom Carter has written me : 
“ The North-west aboriginal name for the White-bellied Sea-Eagle is 
TIntagee, which means ‘ butterfly.’ The name is very appropriate, for 
when these noble birds are soaring in circles at a great height, as they 
frequently do, they very much resemble a giant moth or butterfly. As a rule 
their bulky nests are placed in situations difficult of access, as on a ledge of 
cliff placed beneath where the top overhangs, but I have found nests about 
the Exmouth Gulf and North-west Cape built in stunted white gum-trees, 
not more than 10 feet from the ground. I found such a nest on June 17, 
1902, near Quailing (Exmouth Gulf), which was six feet in diameter and about 
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