RAPTORES. 59 



adults paying regular and hourly visits to the marshes in 

 search of food, which was doubtless borne away to their 

 young. When in a state of quiescence, this species, like the 

 other Harriers, perches on some elevation in the open plain 

 rather than among the trees of the forest — the trunk of a 

 fallen tree, a large stone, or small hillock being among its 

 favourite resting-places. 



The sexes offer the usual differences in the larger size of 

 the female ; her markings are also rather less well-defined, 

 and have not so much of the grey colouring as the male. The 

 young resemble the young of the Marsh Harrier of Europe. 



Head and all the upper surface rich dark brown ; the 

 feathers at the back of the neck margined with reddish buff; 

 face light reddish brown ; facial disk buffy white, with a dark 

 stripe down the centre of each feather ; all the under surface 

 buffy white, which is deepest on the lower part of the 

 abdomen and thighs, each feather with a streak of brown 

 down the centre ; upper tail-coverts and base of the tail- 

 feathers white ; remaining length of the tail-feathers brownish 

 grey; irides yellow; eyelash and cere pale greenish yellow; 

 bill dark brown, becoming light blue at the base ; tarsi 

 greenish white; feet yellowish buff; claws dark brown. 



Mr. Wliite, of Adelaide, informs me that " this bird is 

 very numerous in South Australia during the summer months, 

 and is generally found in swampy situations. I have seen it 

 on the Murray, and in many other places. It feeds on eggs, 

 birds, reptiles, and indeed on almost everything. I have 

 often observed it flying close over the tops of the reeds, when 

 quite dark. Its cry is a kind of loud shrill whistle of one 

 note. At times it will fly very high. It varies much in 

 colour ; the two sexes are much alike, but the female is the 

 larger bird of the two." I possess eggs which I have no 

 doubt belong to this species ; they are of a pure white, about 

 one inch and seven-eighths long by one inch and a half in 

 breadth. 



