THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
young ones, and also smaller mammals and reptiles.” Other notes confirm 
again the habits and food of this bird, without adding anything new. 
The following notes refer to the Western form which I separated in 
1912, but which here I do not uphold as hereafter discussed. 
Mr. Tom Carter writes me : “ The Allied Kite occurred in great numbers 
in the Mid- west in good seasons, but was much more numerous inland 
than on the coast. They were particularly plentiful inland from Point 
Cloates in 1900, and at times were a distinct nuisance as I drove over 
some of the densely-grassed plains^, as several of the birds would accompany 
the buggy in order to feed upon the grasshoppers, etc., disturbed from the 
grass, and at times flew so close to the horses’ heads as to make them 
frightened. The birds seemed to catch the insects with their feet, from 
which they ate them as they flew along, without alighting. Several nests 
containing eggs were seen between July 19th and 22nd in that year. The 
clutch was two, the nests being built near the ends of horizontal branches, 
and were rather flat in shape, and lined with leaves off gum trees.” 
Keartland, in the Trans. Roy. Soc. S.A., Vol. XXII.^ p. 166, 1898, 
recorded : “ These tropical scavengers were not seen until the Fitzroy River 
was approached early in November, but on our arrival at the telegraph 
station at the Crossing they were very numerous. All along the road 
from the Derby to the Margaret River they may be seen in hundreds. 
During the heat of the day they seek shelter from the sun amongst the 
branches of the various trees, but both morning and evening they are either 
on the wing soaring overhead or seeking food on the ground. Nothing 
in the shape of carrion seems to come amiss to them. They are very tame 
and are useful in clearing away the offal when cattle are slaughtered. They 
seldom attack poultry and consequently are not molested. Grasshoppers 
form the chief portion of their food. They build their loose stick nests 
in the Baobab trees during March and April.” 
Hill, in the Emu, Vol. X., p. 267, 1911, concerning the birds of 
Kimberley, North-west Australia, observed : “ Grass fires and the consequent 
harvest of lizards, small mammals and insects, attracted many Hawks 
in April, May and June, amongst which Kites were prominent. Great 
daring is shown by these fine birds in the pursuit of their prey, and it 
is not an unusual thing to find their wing- and tail-feathers much damaged 
by fire. In August and September I saw many Kites in the town of 
Derby, where they were doing good work as scavengers.” 
Mr. J. P. Rogers, from the North-west, also recorded {Emu, Vol. II., 
p. 63, 1902) ; “ 12-10-01. The Kites have nearly all left Livuringa for 
a time. To-day (8-2-00) the Kites were back in Livuringa in great numbers. 
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