BUTEO MELANOSTEENON. 



(Black-hreasted Buzzard.) 



Crown and sides of the head, chin, chest, and middle of the abdomen, deep black, passing into chestnut red on the flanks ; thighs and under 

 tail coverts, rufous ; back of the head and neck, chestnut red — the centre of each feather, black; shoulders, buif; upper surface, brownish 

 black — each feather margined with chestnut ; primaries, white at the base, the remaining portion black ; cere, purplish flesh color ; irides, 

 light brown ; feet, whitish, with a tinge of lilac. The sexes are alike, but the female is the smallest. 



Length, 22 inches ; wing, 19^ ; tail, 8^ ; bill (around the curve of cutting edge), 2 ; tarsus 2f. 



This well marked and elegant bird is the only species at present known of the genus to which it belongs inhabiting Australia, 

 and to which it is also exclusively confined. It is of great rarity, though frequenting parts of the continent far removed from one another, 

 but more particularly in the south and middle portions of this great island continent. No examples have as yet been recorded from the 

 north. It is equally a denizen of the colony of Western Australia and that of New South Wales. The Black-breasted Buzzard flies high, 

 and the strongly contrasted colors of its plumage render it a very conspicuous object as it careers in majestic circles through the air. It 

 feeds upon the various small animals which are so numerously dispersed over the country. Gilbert, when out shooting, records its dexterity 

 in extracting all the interior portions of specimens of small kangaroos, etc., which he temporarily placed in a tuft of grass, tree, or the fork of 

 a branch, intending to resume possession of them on his return, nothing being left but the bare skin, and that to all appearance uninjured. 



