578 MR. E. P. RAMSAY ON [NOV. 16, 2. List of Birds met with in North-eastern Queensland, chiefly at Rockingham Bay. By E. Pierson Ramsay, F.L.S. &c. [Beceived August 24, 1875.] 1. AQUILA AUDAX*. Scarce near the coast, but plentiful over the coast-range on the tablelands. 2. HlERAETUS MORPHNOIDES. This rare and interesting species is by no means easily obtained; a few specimens have visited the coast-range near the heads of the Herbert river, and on the tablelands. Mr. J. B. White procured several fine specimens of both sexes at Springsure and on the Barkoo river ; and it is also found about 100 miles inland from Rockhampton. The sexes differ considerably in size ; and individuals of both sexes vary in the colour and intensity of the plumage, some being of a rich dark rufous or rusty brown, others light buff (almost white) on the abdo-men, pale rusty brown on sides of chest and flanks, a stripe of black-ish brown down centre of each feather ; the sexes and individuals of the same sex also differ greatly in size. A small male in the Dobroyde Collection measures : — total length 16*5 inches ; bill, from forehead, along the culmen, I "4, from cere, along culmen, 1*2, from cere to tip 1*1 ; wing 13, tail 7*8, tarsus 2'3. A female in the Australian Mu-seum, total length 22 inches, wing 15*85, tail 9'8, bill 1*4, culmen 1-7, tarsus 2-8. 3. PoLIOAETUS LEUCOGASTER. Plentiful everywhere along the coast. I have noticed them seize Plover and Porphyria as they rose from the swamps. 4. Haliastur leucosterntjs. Very common all along the coast, they venture as far south as the Clarence river, where they are considered rare, and extend northwards to Cape York and coast of New Guinea. Eggs 2 in number, dirty white, sparingly blotched with reddish brown, length 2' 1 by 1 '65 inch. 5. Haliastur sphenurus. A species with great range of habitat ; it frequently ascends river-districts into the interior, and it is to be found on many of the lakes inland. 6. Pandion leucocephalus. By no means rare, but not often procurable ; it ranges as far south as the Clarence river. I have specimens of the eggs of this species taken from a nest of sticks built in a Eucalyptus overhanging the Bris-bane river ; they are 2 in number, 25 inches long by 1 '65 in breadth, of a dirty white, strongly blotched with deep rust-red spots and markings, with a few blotches of slaty blue — a very handsome egg. * Where no references are given, the names are taken from Gould's ' Hand-book.'
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