1868.] MR. E. p. RAMSAY ON BIRDS FROM QUEENSLAND. 381 



2. On certain New and Rare Species of Birds found at Rock- 

 ingham Bayj Queensland. By E. P. Ramsay, C.M.Z.S. 



As some of my scientific friends are doubtless aware, I despatched 

 Mr. E. Spalding, an experienced collector, to Rockingham Bay 

 during October 1867, with instructions to procure as complete a 

 collection as possible of all north-country species found in that and 

 the surrounding districts, and particularly to obtain all the infor- 

 mation he could respecting the Australian Cassowary {Casuarius 

 australis). 



The following, then, is a list of the most interesting species found 

 in this locality, and descriptions of such of them as I deem to be 7iew. 



1 . Haliastur letjcosternus. 



This species is common as far south as Port Denison ; and a few 

 stragglers have wandered down to the Richmond and Clarence River- 

 heads, New South Wales. 



2. ASTUR, sp. 



Agrees with Mr. Gould's description of A. cruentus, but has no 

 rufous collar. This specimen was accompanied by a young bird, just 

 able to fly, and which coincides with A. approximans exactly. Total 

 length 20 inches; wing from flexure 11, tail 9. 



3. AsTUR approximans. 



The above mentioned young bird. There is no diff'erence between 

 the West-Australian and the New-South-Wales individuals of this 

 bird. 



4. AsTUR ( $ ), sp. nov. 



Two specimens shot, both alike. Total length (of skin) 20 inches. 



Whole of the upper surface dull slaty brown, lower part of hind 

 neck brown. Wings above slaty brown ; underneath white, except 

 the tips of the quill-feathers, which are slaty grey ; the basal por- 

 tion of the inner webs of the secondaries and tertiaries barred with 

 greyish brown to within one-third of the width of their inner 

 margin ; edges of the wings barred with brown at the base of the 

 primaries. Sides of the head and neck slaty brown, the feathers on 

 these parts being white barred and margined with slaty brown. 

 Whole of the under surface white ; the throat, neck, chest, breast, 

 and flanks crossed with wavy bars of brown, broader and inclining 

 to arrow-shaped markings on the breast and flanks. Upper tail- 

 coverts and tail barred with blackish brown ; underside of tail-fea- 

 thers light slate-grey, the bars distinctly showing through on all 

 but the two centre feathers ; inner webs of all lighter, becoming 

 white at the base. Bill jet-black, yellow at the base; cere, legs, 

 and feet yellow, claws black ; irides deep orange. 



Total lengtli 20 inches ; wing from flexure 11-2, tail 8"4 ; bill, 

 from angle of mouth 1*3, from the forehead along culmen to tip \-G, 



