Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds. 



ORDER-ACCIPITRES: BIRDS OF PREY. 

 Sub=order— Falcones : Falcons. 



FAMILY— FALCONID^ : HAWKS. 

 Sub-family — Accipitrin/E : Long-legged Hawks. 



1. — Circus assimilis, Jardine and Selby. — (27) 

 G. jnrtlinii, Gould. 



SPOTTED HAERIER. 



Figure. — Gould: Birds of Australia, fol.. vol. i, pi. 27. 



Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. i., p. 63. 



Previous Descriptions of Eggs.— GouM : Birds of Australia, Hand- 

 book, vol. i., p. 60 (1865): North: Austn. Mus. Cat., p. i, 

 pi. 2, fie;. 4 (1889) : Campbell: Proc Austn. Assoc, vi., p. 418 

 (1895)- 



Geographical Distribution. — Australia in general and Ta.smania; also 

 Celebes. 



Nest. — Sonirwliat flat, loose structure, composed of sticks and twigs, and 

 lined sparinglj' with leaves plucked when green. Usually situated in a 

 tree. 



Eggn. — Clutch, two to three, probably four occasionally ; roundish oi- 

 round oval in form ; texture of shell somcwliat coarse ; surface without 

 gloss ; coloiu', bluish-white. Inside lining cold or dark green, differing from 

 the lining of those of C . r/nuhli, which is lighter green. Dimen.sions of a 

 clut<-h from Queensland: (1) 2-06 x 1-5, (2) 2-05 x 1'5, (3) 2-0 x 1-56. 

 Of a proper pair from Western Australia : (1) 1-96 x 1-64, (2) 1-94 x 1-57. 



Oh.?ervations. — This handsomely marked Hawk, although plentiful!}' 

 distributed over some interior and western localities, is not so frequently 

 noticed as the more familiar Swamp Hawk, from which it may be at once 

 distinguished by the beautifvtl white spotted nature of its plumage. 

 However, immature birds commence with only a few faint spots on the 

 feathers of the flanks, or on the imder tail coverts, before the beautiful adult 

 spotted dress is assumed. Tlie bird is occasionally seen in Victoria, but in 

 its western habitat it is common, nevertheless exceedingly shy. The 

 Spotted Han-ier liimts for food (chiefly lizards) over the ground with a 

 leisurely flapping flight, and will lie close on n hot day in the shade of a bu.sh 

 or tree. It is evident the Spotted Hanier does not nest upon the ground 

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