ASTUR ALBUS. 



White Goshawk. 



PLATE I.— Adult Male. 



A. albus, rostro nigro, cera pedibusque flavis. 



Long, maris 16 pollices ; fceminae, 20£ pollices. — Pond. fceminae 1 ft 12 oz. 



Falco Novas Hollandias, GmeL Linn. Syst Nat. i. p. 264>.—Latk. Ind. Ornith. i. p. J 6". 



Vigors et Horsfield, in Trans, of Linn. Soc. xv. p. 179- 

 New Holland White Eagle, Lath. Gen. Hist, of Birds, i. p. 217- 

 Falco albus, Australasian White Eagle, Shaw, Gen. Zool. vii. p. 92. 

 Milk-white Hawk, Mr. Caley's MS. Notes to Birds in collection of Linn. Soc. 



J. his elegant species has been considered by Cuvier, and many other orni- 

 thologists, only as a variety of some other ; and the very few Specimens that 

 were, until lately, brought to this country, assisted in confirming the opinion 

 of its colour being accidental. A more accurate examination of numerous 

 specimens, and the testimony of persons and naturalists whose discrimination 

 can be depended upon, have, however, removed every remaining doubt of 

 its being a species entirely distinct. It is a native of New Holland. Most 

 of the specimens brought to this country, have been taken in the neighbour- 

 hood of Port Jackson. It appears to frequent rivers and fresh-water creeks, 

 hunting over the low brushwood that covers their banks. 



Mr Caley, who has enriched the Museum of the Linnean Society with 

 a very extensive collection of New Holland birds, and which he has rendered 

 more valuable by his remarks on their habits, attached the following obser- 

 vations to a fine specimen of a female in that collectien : " Milk-white Hawk. 

 — This bird was shot near Duck river, which is a branch of Port Jackson 

 Harbour, about two miles from Paramatta, on the road to Sydney. I have 

 seen this species very sparingly. The natives tell me it feeds upon fish. Its 

 weight is 1 lb. 12 oz. The irides are light olive, with a shade of yellow.— 

 Feb. 1809." 



There are two specimens of this bird in the British Museum, and most 

 of the collections upon the Continent also possess specimens, in every way 



(1) A 



