22 
here given as I received it ; without vouching for its truth, I may 
remark that the testimony of the natives may generally be relied 
upon. 
“ The natives, Mr. Drummond, and his son Mr. Johnson Drum- 
mond tell me,” says Mr. Gilbert, “ that this bird is so bold, that 
upon discovering an Emu sitting on her eggs it will attack her with 
great ferocity until it succeeds driving her from the nest; when the 
eggs being the attraction, it takes up a stone with its feet, and while 
hovering over the nest lets the stone fall upon and crush them, and 
then descends and devours their contents. I have had numerous 
opportunities of observing the bird myself, and can bear testimony 
to its great powers of scent or vision ; for upon several occasions, 
when the natives had placed a small kangaroo or kangaroo rat in 
the fork of a tree or on the top of a Xanthorrhcea with the intention 
of taking it again on our return, we have found that the bird had 
discovered, and during our short absence had devoured every part of 
it except the skin, which was left so perfect, that at first I could not 
believe that it had not been done by the hand of man.” 
Genus Milvus. 
Asia is the great stronghold of the Kites or restricted genus 
Milvus ; a few species occur in Europe, Africa, and the Indian 
Islands, and two are natives of Australia. 
21. Milvus afhnis, Gould Vol. I. PI. 21. 
Milvus ( Hydroictmia ) affinis , Kaup, Isis, 1817, p. 118. 
This representative of the Milvus ater of Europe is found all over 
Australia, even at Port Essington : and Captain Sturt observed it 
flying over the far interior of South Australia in great numbers. 
22. Milvus isurus, Gould Vol. 1. PI. 22. 
This species, which is sparingly dispersed over the whole of the 
southern part of Australia, is an equally beautiful representative of 
the common Kite, Milvus regcdis of Europe. 
Genus Elanus. 
Species of this beautiful and well-defined genus inhabit nearly 
every part of the world : two are natives of Australia. 
23. Elanus axillaris Vol. I. PI. 23. 
Elanus melanopterus , Vig. & Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. 
p. 185. 
The Elanus axillaris is a representative of the Elanus melano- 
pterus of Europe. 
24. Elanus scriptus, Gould . Vol. I. PI. 24. 
A fine new species rendered conspicuously different from all the 
other members of the genus by the black-lettered form of the mark- 
ings under the wings. 
Captain Sturt found this bird abundant at the depot towards the 
interior of Australia. 
