DIURNAL BIRDS OF PREY 
215 
8. Little Eagle Hierda'etus morplmoides Gould 
Hi'-er-a-a-ct-us —Gk, hierax, acos, hawk; Gk, aetos, eagle: morph-noid’- 
es—Gk, marphnos, kind of eagle; -aides from Gk, eidos, form = like. 
Distribution .—Australia (except the south-western portion) ; also 
occurs in New Guinea. 
Notes .- — Usually in pairs, frequenting chiefly the inland districts 
where it shows a preference for country intersected hy creeks. It is a 
quiet and inoffensive species, in some districts subsisting almost entirely 
on rabbits. It also feeds on small mammals, reptiles, carrion, and young 
birds. Its call-note is a plaintive piping whistle. 
Nest.—A large structure, composed of sticks, and lined with leaves 
Generally placed on a slender forked limb at the top of a tree. 
Eggs. One, sometimes two, bluish-white, sparsely and at times 
faintly marked with reddish-brown spots. Breeding-season • August to 
November. 
9. Wedge-tailed Eagle Uroaetus audax Latham 
Ur-o-a-et-us Gk, lira ( oura ), tail; Gk, aetos, eagle: au-dax—U, audax 
bold. ' ’ 
Distribution .—Australia generally, and Tasmania. 
Notes. Also called Eagle-hawk—a ridiculous name considering that 
it is the largest species of_ Eagle in the world. It frequents alike timbered 
country and plains, and is generally observed singly or in pairs soaring 
high in the air as if on motionless wings, but nevertheless travelling 
with great rapidity. When in pursuit of its prey the speed of its flight 
is astounding, for it darts down as swift as an arrow and rarely misses 
its intended victim It has a bad reputation as a lamb-killer,^ though 
unquestionably it does more good than harm, for it destroys many 
thousands of rabbits, to an occasional lamb. The food of the species 
consists chiefly of rabbits and small marsupials, also carrion. The average 
wing-spread is about 7 feet. S 
, VCry lar £? structure > composed of sticks, and lined with 
leave f s - Pkced in a very large tree and mostly in one that 
is . dated or so situated that the sitting bird has an uninterrupted view 
, nm T: Grounding country. A nest often measures 8 feet across and 
sometimes is almost as deep. 
m^ £ ^it~ UsUa1 ^ two? occasi onally three, white or light buff, often 
re a 1 over with spots or blotches of lavender, the markings generally 
f. &pSer n0, ' Ceable a ‘ the ^ end ' B ««liW-seaso„: u^uf fly July 
10. White-breasted Sea Eagle Halmilus leucogaster Gmelin 
»tet; Sea; Gk ’ ***' eagle: '^■‘’S^-ler-Gk, leucos, 
China a“o«anta AUStralia and Tasmania 1 als ° oc ™ rs in Mia, southern 
