CO BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



Sp. 27. CIRCUS JARDINII, Gould. 



Jardine's Harrier. 



Circus Jardinii, Gould, in Proc. of Zool. Sol., part v. p. 141 ; and in 



Syn. Birds of Australia, part iii. 

 [Spilocircus) Jardinii, Kaup, Isis, 1847, p. 102. 



Circus Jardinii, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. i. pi. 27. 



This very beautiful Harrier, which is distinguished from 

 every other species of the genus at present known by the 

 spotted character of its plumage, is plentifully dispersed over 

 every portion of New South Wales, wherever localities favour- 

 able to the existence of the Harrier tribe occur, such as ex- 

 tensive plains, wastes, and luxuriant grassy flats between the 

 hills in mountainous districts. The extent of its range over 

 the Australian continent has not yet been ascertained, and I 

 have never observed it from any other portion of the country 

 than that mentioned above ; it is probable, however, that it 

 extends all along the east coast, Mr. Wallace has obtained 

 examples in Macassar. 



To describe the economy of the Jardine's Harrier would be 

 merely to repeat what has been said respecting that of the 

 former species. Like the other members of the genus, it flies 

 lazily over the surface of the plains, intently seeking for lizards, 

 snakes, small quadrupeds, and birds ; and when not pressed 

 by hunger, reposes on some dried stick, elevated knoll, or 

 stone, from which it can survey all around. Although I ob- 

 served this species in all parts of the Hunter in summer, when 

 others of the FalconidcB were breeding, I did not succeed in 

 procuring its eggs, or obtain any satisfactory information 

 respecting its nidification ; in all probability its nest is con- 

 structed on or near the ground, on the scrubby crowns of the 

 low, open, sterile hills that border the plains. An egg sent 

 to me by Mr. White of Adelaide, and taken by him at Lake 



