BY COLONEL W. V. LEGGE, E.A., ETC. 85 



3. HiBKACiDEA OKiENTALis, ScMegel. 



One example seen near the settlement (L). 



The open sheep runs and plains of the Midland Districts 

 are the great home of this bird. It has the habit of another 

 well-known member of the Falconinoe, the Kestrel, of hovering 

 poised in the air, over a coveted object on the ground and 

 then descending on it, very similarly to the Kestrel. These 

 weak-legged, round- winged falcons, represented by the two 

 so-called Brown Hawks of the Australian region, are very 

 interesting members of this sub-family. To the typical bill of 

 falcon they unite the wing and leg, to some extent, of the 

 goshawk, and they have the ignoble habits of the Harrier 

 with the hovering propensity of the long- winged Kestrels. 



4. NiNOx MACTJLATA, Vig. and Horsf. 



The Spotted Owl is recorded by Signer Bernacchi. Probably 

 both species of Hawk-owl are found in Maria Island. These 

 owls are variable in their choice of abode — woods, plantations 

 near houses, and even localities in the heart of towns are 

 chosen as dwelling places, in support of which I may state 

 that recently I observed a fine example of the spotted owl 

 sitting at dusk on a conservatory in Macquarie- street. 



^. Strix castanops, Gould. 



Found occasionally near the settlement (B). 



PSITTACI. 



■6. Caltptorhtnchxjs xanthonotus, Gould. 

 Found in the forests on the hills (B). 



7. Platyceecus plaviventris, Temmmch. 



Common on the West Coast, and observed close to the 

 rocky shore (L). 



KB. — From all accounts the "Eosella" appears to be 

 singularly absent from this island, as Signer Bernacchi has 

 not observed it. This species is likewise not found on the 

 JSr.W. Coast about Circular Head. Its favourite habitat has 

 always doubtless been the sparsely timbered country, and 

 its translation to the cleared districts where once the virgin 

 forest reigned is evidently a matter of some time. 



8. Pezoporous formosus, Latham. 



The G-round Paroquet is common on the West Coast. 

 Observed on the swampy, marshy lands near Long Point, 

 near the " Neck," and on Penguin Island near the 

 settlement (L). 



