lERAOIDEA BEEIGOEA. 



(Brown Hawk.) 



Ceowis', reddish brown, witli a black line down tbe centre of eacb feather ; a streak of black from the base of the lower mandible down each 

 side of the cheek ; ear coverts, brown ; throat, chest, centre of the abdomen, and under tail coverts, pale buff, each feather having a central 

 line of brown ; flanks, reddish brown, marked with whitish spots ; thighs, dark brown, marked with reddish spots ; back, reddish brown ; 

 scapularies, wing coverts, and tail, brown, barred and spotted with reddish brown; primaries, blackish brown, largely spotted with buff" on 

 the inner webs ; bill, bluish horn color, with the tip black ; cere and naked space round the eye, bluish lead color ; irides, dark brown ; feet, 

 whitish lead color. 



Length, 19 inches ; wing, 14 ; tail, 9^ ; bill, 1 ; tarsus, 2 ; longest claw 2^. 



This bird is common in Tasmania, JSTew South Wales, and South Australia, becoming rather scarce in the southern portions of 

 Queensland. In Western Australia it is represented by another species very closely allied. The plumage of the Brown Hawk presents 

 considerable variety, no two examples being exactly alike ; but the above description will enable an ordinary observer easily to identify the 

 majority of specimens. The one from which the accompanying plate is taken is from the collection of Mr. Waller, of Brisbane, and may be 

 regarded as an exceedingly dark variety, the whole plumage being entirely of a deep brown tint. The bill, cere, orbits, and feet are similar 

 in color to those parts in birds of the ordinary plumage. The other species, I. Occidentalis, is so like the present that the plate in which it 

 is figured will serve to depict the common variety of the present species, with the diff'erence only of the cere being yellow instead of lead 

 color. Its food consists of carrion, small mammalia, and birds, but principally insects, especially caterpillars. At certain seasons the latter 

 pest prevails to such a degree that whole tracts of country are cleared of every blade of grass, when this bird may be observed devouring the 

 larvge with great greediness. The numerous dead animals which, in times of drought, are to be found throughout the country, also attract 

 this bird in great numbers. In disposition it is not so courageous as many others of the Australian raptorial birds, but it is still sufficiently 

 so to make it at times a nuisance to the breeder of poultry, as it not unfrequently visits the farm yard and carries ofi" chickens and ducklings. 

 Its nest is formed of sticks, lined with shreds of bark, and generally placed near the top of a high gum tree. Eggs, two or three, very 

 variable in appearance ; ground color, buffy white, much blotched with reddish brown ; length 2 inches 2 lines, by 1 inch 6 lines. 



