4 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



little lustre; colour bluish-while, sometimes without markings, at 

 others with spots and blotches of rather pale reddish-brown. Dimen- 

 sions in mm. of a clutch : — (1) 45 x 35.5, (2) 46 x 34.25, (3) 45 x 35. 



Breeding Season. — August to December. 



Geographical Distribution. — Tasmania, Australia, Norfolk Is., 

 and New Caledonia. 



Observations. — Common compared with the White Goshawk. 

 Like all other Hawks, it is much persecuted on account of its 

 fondness for an occasional chicken. The stomachs of several that 

 I have examined contained only the undigested remains of rats 

 and mice. On farms where there are hayricks, it will stay about 

 day after day on the look-out for its prey, upon which it will swoop 

 down with lightning speed, striking uncalled for terror into the 

 hearts of the farmyard hens and their families, with the result 

 that it pays the extreme penalty. Flying with facile wing, it glides 

 over the grain-fields, keeping a sharp look-out for its prey the 

 while. Lizards and small snakes are not despised when hunger 

 presses. 



SPAEROW-HAWK 



(Accipiter cirrJwcephalus, Vieillot). 



Male. — Whole of the upper surface, including head, blackish- 

 grey or fawn; tail indistinctly barred with a deeper colour; round 

 the back of the neck a semi-interrupted band of reddish-brown ; 

 throat whitish, the feathers obscurely banded w'ith pale reddish; 

 chest and rest of under surface reddish, crossed b^- numerous bands 

 of white, finest on chest and then widening; thighs distinctly red- 

 dish; under sides of wings and tail silver-grey, distinctly barred 

 with dark brown or blackish, very distinct on former. " Irides and 

 ej'elashes yellows cere and gape yellowish-green; base of the bill 

 lead colour, tip black; legs yellow, slightly tinged with green" 

 (Gould). Dimensions in mm. : — Length, 431; bill, 24; wing, 267; 

 tail, 221; tarsus, 71. 



Female. — Similar in plumage to male. Dimensions in mm. : — 

 Length, 445; bill, 24; wing, 283; tail, 203; tarsus, 71. 



Yonng. — Male. — " Cere and gape olive-yellow; irides and eye- 

 lash primrose-yellow" (Gould). 



Nest. — Constructed in the fork of a fairly high tree, and com- 

 posed of sticks and twigs, and lined with fine roots, leaves, &c. 

 "Frequently the nest of another bird of prey is used" (A. J. Camp- 

 bell). 



Eggs. — Clutch three usually, four sometimes; roundish, of fine 

 texture, and without lustre; colour white, faintlj' tinged with 

 blue or green, generally without markings. An example in a 

 clutch iia the collection of Mr. F. D. Barclay is somewhat heavily 

 marked with brown at the smaller end. Dimensions in mm. of a 

 clutch -.—{l) 41 X 33, (2) 39.5 x 33, (3) 40 x 32. 



