32 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



this way to such an extent as to spread destruction throughout 

 the entire district. By the settlers this bird is considered one 

 of the pests of the country ; but it was clear to me that what- 

 ever injury it may inflict by now and then pilfering the newly 

 hatched chickens from the poultry-yard is amply compensated 

 for by the havoc it commits among the countless myriads of 

 the destructive caterpillar. To give an idea of the numbers 

 of this bird to be met with at one time, I may state that I 

 have frequently seen from ten to forty on a single tree, so 

 sluggish and indisposed to fly that any number of specimens 

 might have been secured. 



So much difference occurs in the plumage of the H. Berigora 

 that the changes it undergoes require to be closely studied. 

 Professor Kaup considers it and the next species to be iden- 

 tical ; but having had numerous opportunities of observing 

 both birds in a state of nature, I regard them as distinct ; 

 and in confirmation of this opinion I may state that the 

 present bird, which is from the eastern coast, is always the 

 largest, has the cere blue-grey, and the plumage of the adult 

 light brown, sparingly blotched with white on the breast ; 

 while the H. occidenialis, of the western coast, is a more 

 delicately formed bird, has the cere yellow and the breast 

 white, with faint lines of brown down the centre of each 

 feather. 



The sexes are nearly alike in colour, but the female is the 

 largest in size. The Hieracidea Berigora breeds during the 

 months of October and November. 



The nest, which is placed on the highest branches of lofty 

 Eucalypti, is similar in size to that of a Crow, is composed 

 outwardly of sticks, and lined with strips of stringy bark, 

 leaves, &c. ; the eggs, which are very beautiful, and M'hich are 

 two and sometimes three in number, vary so much in colour 

 that they are seldom found alike, even in the same nest ; they 

 are also longer or of a more oval shape than those of the gene- 

 rality of Falcons ; the prevaiHng colour is, the ground bufiy 



