Order ACCIPITKES.] [Fam. FALCONIDJE. 



HIERACIDEA BKUNNEA. 



(BUSH-HAWK.) 



Falco brunneus, Gould, P. Z. 8. 1837, p. 139. 

 Falcoferox, Peale, U. S. Expl. Exp. p. 07 (1848). 

 Hieracidea brunnea, Gray, Ibis, 1862, p. 215. 

 Uarpe bnmneus, Gray, Hand-1. of B. i. p. 22 (1869). 



Native names. 



The same as those applied to the preceding species; but sometimes distinguished as Karewa- 

 rewa-tara. "Sparrow-Hawk" of the colonists. 



cf similis H. nova zealandue, seel valde minor : subtus rnagis ciuereus : Cauda? fasciis angustioribus et obscuri- 



oribus : subtus pallidior, distinctius striatus ct maculatus. 



2 maris staturam conspicue superans. 



Juv. a specie prsecedente baud distinguendus, sed subtus obscttrior. 



Adult male. Upper parts generally greyish black, darkest on the bead and nape; shoulders, scapulars, and 

 small wing-coverts narrowly barred with greyish white, the back and upper tail-covcrts with small cres- 

 centic bands of rufous ; throat yellowish white ; ciliary bristles, ear-coverts, and the facial streak black ; 

 a line over each eye, and the sides of the neck, reddish brown, varied with fulvous and black ; breast and 

 sides fulvous, varied with reddish brown, and largely marked with black. On the breast each feather 

 has a central dash of black ; and on the sides these markings assume a triangular form, giving a spotted 

 character to the surface of the plumage. The wing-feathers are marked, on their outer web, by narrow 

 transverse bands of greyish white ; and the tail-feathers, which are black with a purplish reflection, have 

 a series of seven narrow white bars disunited at the shaft, and are tipped with rufous brown ; axillars 

 dark rufous brown, with a series of round white spots on each web ; abdomen and vent pale fulvous ; 

 tibial plumes rufous, with black shaft-lines. Bill black, white at the base of lower mandible; irides and 

 feet yellow; claws black. Extreme length 16 inches ; extent of wings 26 - 5 ; wing, from flexure, 9; 

 tail 6 - 5 ; tarsus 2\25 ; middle toe and claw 2'3; hind toe and claw 1*3; bill, along the ridge, "85, 

 along the edge of lower mandible 1 . 



Adult female. Differs from the male in its somewhat larger size and in the darker and richer colouring of 

 its plumage; but in other respects the sexes are alike. Extreme length 17 inches; wing, from flexure, 

 11 ; tail 8 ; tarsus 2"5. 



Young. The young of this species bears a general resemblance in its plumage to that of the preceding bird ; 

 but on a close comparison it will be observed that the brown of the underparts is darker, while the 

 spotted markings on the sides are rather more conspicuous. The tibials, moreover, are of a brighter 

 rufous, and are crossed with numerous arrow-shaped marks of brown. 



Nestling. Covered with bluish-grey down ; bill black ; tarsi and toes leaden-grey. 



