]^7G FALCONID^. 



Order ACCIPITRES. 

 Sub-order Faixones. 



Family FALCONID^. 



Sub-family AGCIPITRIN^. 



Circus assimilis. 



SPOTTED HARKIER 



Circus asdm His, Jard. and Sdby, III. Oca., Vol. I,, pi. 51 (1826); Hliarpt-, Cat. Bd.s. Brit. Mus., 



Vol. I., p. 63 (1874) ; ;-/, IIaiid-1. Bds,, Vol. I., p. 2-t.-| (1890). 

 Circus jardinn, Gould, Eds, Austr., fol. Vol. I, pi. 27 (1818); id., Handbk. Bds. Austi., 



Vol. I., p, GO (ISe.'i). 



Adult m.\lk. — Gmirnd rtilour above pale hliiish-slali' co/mir, ihr upjier tuil-corfrt^i idyed intli 

 ivliitf, at tin' lip, and crosned ivilh tivo or thrre broken spot-like ichite hnrsj /ciiiys like the back, the 

 apical half of tlie ontcr primaries bro/vnis/i-black, their darker ti/>s becoming smaller ami paler on tlie 

 inner primaries and the secondaries, the remaining portion of the (/ii ills crossed nnth dark bromn 

 bars, which are more conipicnons on the under surface of the n-iug, this portion bring ashij-n-hite ; 

 t/ie in aer lesser itpjier u'ing-aorerts ilull brick colour, finelij spotted witJi u:hite, these spot tings being 

 larijer ami more distinct on the remainder of tlie upp->r wing-coverts and scapniars : tail-feathers 

 ashg-qrey with dull ivhitisli tips, and crossed ivitli sic or seven binckish-brouin ba7ids, u^hich ore paler 

 tou:iirds the base ; crou-n of the head, awl ear-coverls chestnut, the former broadly streaked u^ith dark 

 slati/grey ; facial ruff and sides of tite neck pah; bluisli-grey ; nonainder of the under surface, under 

 wini) and under tail-coverts rnfons, with a row of rounded wh ite spots on both irebs, those on the upper 

 portion, of the bod'./ and flanks in. some specimen.t ■uarrowli/ margined with dull slatij-grey : some of 

 the longer tipper wing and under tail-coverts dull n-hite with intermingled dnU slaty-broum andrufous 

 cross-bars; bill black, bluish at the base; cere greenish-lead colour; legs and feet yellow ; iris yellow. 

 Total length in the flesh .20 inches, nnng I'rT, toil ICro, bill I'J, tarsus oS. 



Adult female. — Similar in plumage ti.i the male, but larger. Total length in the Jlesh 23 5 

 inches, wing IS, tail 1.', tarsus 4- 



Distribution. — North-western Austialia, Oueetisland, New South Wales, Victoria, South 

 Australia, Western Australia. 



/T^MIC Order Accipitres is usually a fa\'ourite one with Ornithologists and Oologists. To 

 -L the former, with the many varying changes of plumage from youth to maturity in 

 Australia, notably in the genera C/>i7(s, Astitv a.x\d. Accipitcy; to the latter, by the many richly 

 marked and brilliantly coloured eggs, as are exhibited in Hieracidca, Falco, Gypoicliiiia, Lofhoitiinia, 

 and Pnndion. Interest also attaches to the nidification of many species, who breed harmoniously 

 together in close company, in others who seldom build at all, or use the deserted tenement of 

 another bird, and which may be occupied in a single season by three or more species. Many 

 of them, too, who prey to a large extent on mammals, also on other birds, are beneficial in 

 killing reptiles and many injurious insect pests. The Wedge-tailed Eagle, the largest and most 

 powerful of our Australian birds of prey, in districts where there is a paucity of its natural food, 

 is undoubtedly destructive, especially in the lambing season, but this is more than counterbalanced 

 by keeping in check the rabbit pest where these rodents occur. 



