£AZA, 15 



"3 ELANUS SORIPTUS, Gould. 



Letter-winged Kite. 



Goutd, Handhk., Bds. Aust., Vol. i., sp. 24, p. 5.5. 



The Letter-winged Kite was at one time common on the Keilor 

 Plains near Melbourne ; the last specimen I procured was a fine 

 male, it was hovering at dusk in a paddock at Moonee Ponds, 

 catching the field mice which constitute its food. 



The mode of nidification, and the colour and disposition of the 

 markings of the eggs are similar to the preceding species. Eggs 

 three in number for a sitting. An average specimen in my own 

 collection, taken at Keilor in September 1881, is of a dull white 

 ground colour, heavily blotched with chocolate-brown markings, 

 the only part of the ground colour clearly visible being at the 

 smaller end. Length 1-7 inch x 1'27 inch in breadth. 



This species breeds during the months of September and October. 



Hah. Wide Bay District, Richmond and Clarence- Rivers 

 District,. New South Wales, Interior, Victoria and South 

 Australia. {Bamsay.) 



Genus BAZA, Hodgson. 

 -3. BAZA SUBCRISTATA, Gould. 



OreBted Hawk. 

 Gould, Handhk. Bds. Aust., Vol. i., sp. 2.i, p. 56. -2L. S'. 



The nidification of this species, the single representative of the 

 genus found in Australia is described by Dr. Ramsay, as follows : 



" During my recent trip to the North Richmond River, via 

 Grafton, I met with this rare species upon several occasions. I 

 found it giving preference to the edges of the scrubs on the 

 Richmond and Clarence Rivers, whence it would sally out to the 

 more open parts in the mornings and evenings in search of food, 

 and not unfrequently visit the slaughtering establishments in the 

 vicinity of the townships." 



