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ilifctingulsliedby its more slender contour, and by its lengthened and 

 wedge-shaped tail. 



" Of the genus Haliaetus or Sea Eagles, there are four species, the 

 largest of which, clearly the analogue of the European H. albkilla, 

 is one of the species which I consider to be new, and which from the 

 wedge-shaped form of its tail I would characterise as H. sphenurus. 

 I cannot but consider the form of the tail in this species as particu- 

 larly interesting, inasmuch as it is a character peculiar to all the 

 species of Eagle inhabiting Australia, although in a less degree to the 

 others than to the present species. The second is a small species, 

 described by Messrs. Vigors and Horsfield in the Linnsean Transac- 

 tions as Hal. canoriis, the European representatives of which are 

 not so clear to me as those just alluded to. The third is the Ha- 

 liaetus Calei of Messrs. Vigors and Horsfield, of which a single spe- 

 cimen exists in the collection of the Linnean Society, and which I 

 should be rather inclined to assign to the genus Astia- than to tiiat of 

 Haliaetus. In size this species equals the Common Buzzard, but has 

 the rounded wing and several other characters peculiar to the genus 

 Astur. The fourth is the White-breasted Eagle of Dr. Latham, a 

 species inhabiting the continent of Australia and Van Diemen's Land. 

 At a cursory glance this powerful bird might be said to represent the 

 Haliaetus leucocephalus of northern Europe and America, and al- 

 though I cannot but admit their resemblance, I discern characters 

 sufficiently distinct to warrant its separation into a new genus. I 

 am not, however, prepared to make this division at the present mo- 

 ment ; still I am of opinion this bird will prove to be one of a group 

 ranging between Haliaetus and Pandion, of which latter genus the 

 Osprey of Europe may be regarded as the type, and of which a single 

 species inhabits Australia. This bird appears to accord most accu- 

 rately with European specimens excepting in its smaller size ; and if 

 this should ultimately prove to be identical with our bird, it may 

 then be said to be universally distributed over the Old World. The 

 Osprey of America, on the contrary, presents us with some slight 

 differences, which being constant, may I think be safely regarded as 

 specific. 



" Of the genus Falco, the Pei-egrinus is replaced by a species most 

 nearly allied to and hitherto considered identical with that bird : the 

 exj)erienced eye of the ornithologist will, however, readily distinguish 

 an Australian specimen when placed among others from various parts 

 of the globe, so that there will be but little impropriety in assigning 

 to it a separate specific name. As, however, my engagements have not 

 allowed me to make that minute examination which is necessary to 

 determine the point, I defer for the present affixing a new specific 

 name for this species. The Hobby, so famihar as a European 

 bird, is represented by the Falcon, for which I now propose the 

 specific name of rufiventer, as I believe it to be undescribed. The 

 third species, which I have provisionally followed Messrs. Vigors and 

 Horsfield in placing among the true Falcons, is the Falco P.erigora, 

 whose lengthened and slightly-formed tarsi indicate a difference in 

 structure, which may ultimately prove to be generic. The Cerchnis 



