2 BIRDS OF TASMANIA. 



tralia in general; also New Zealand, New Caledonia, Lord Howe 

 Island, Norfolk Island, and Fiji Islands. 



Observations. This fine Hawk may be seen flying over and 

 about river flats and marshes almost everywhere in the island. 

 As far as I am aware, it is nowhere very plentiful, but is in suffi- 

 cient numbers not to be considered rare. It is somewhat of a 

 bold nature, openly swooping down on a farmyard and carrying 

 off sundry chickens during the season. 



SPOTTED HAREIEE OR HAWK 

 (Circus assimilis, Jard. and Selby). 



Male. Crown of the head, cheeks, and ear coverts dark chest- 

 nut, each feather having a mark of brown down the centre ; back 

 of the neck, upper part of the back, and chest uniform dark grey ; 

 shoulders, under surface of the wing, abdomen, thighs, and under 

 tail coverts rich chestnut, the whole of the feathers beautifully 

 spotted with white, the spots regularly disposed down each web, 

 and being largest and most distinct on the abdomen ; upper tail 

 coverts brown, barred and tipped with greyish-white ; tail alter- 

 nately barred with conspicuous bands of dark brown and grey. 

 Length, 19 inches; wing, 16; tail, 10; tarsus, 3f " (Gould). 



Female. Similar to male. 



Nest. Situated in a moderately high tree, and composed of 

 sticks and twigs loosely placed together, with a lining of green 

 leaves. 



Eggs. Clutch two to three usually; roundish in shape, texture 

 of shell fairly coarse; surface lustreless; colour bluish-white. 

 Dimensions in mm. of clutch : (1) 50 x 40, (2) 49 x 41, (3) 51 x 

 42. 



Breeding Season. August to December. 



Geographical Distribution. Tasmania and Australia in general ; 

 also Celebes. 



Observations. In no district is this well-marked species at all 

 plentiful. It is to be found scattered over a wide area, but on 

 account of its shyness it is not often seen close enough to be readily 

 identified. The food of this Hawk chiefly consists of lizards, mice, 

 and other ground game, and, like the Brown Hawk, varying its 

 diet with beetles and moths. Earely, if ever, is it a menace to 

 the farmer's poultry-yard. 



* WHITE GOSHAWK 



(Astur novce-hollandicE, Gm.) 



Male. Whole of the plumage pure white ; cere and legs yellow ; 

 bill and claws black ; irides reddish-brown. Dimensions in mm. : 

 Length, 512; bill, 30; wing, 302; tail, 208; tarsus, 79. 



Female. Plumage similar to male; dimensions a little greater. 



