CIRCUS ASSIMILIS, (nobis). 

 New Ho/land Harrier. 



PLATE LI. 



C. supra bruuneus, capite colloque albo ferrugineoque variis ; subtus pallide ferrugi- 

 neus, plumis medio longitudinaliter, brunneo-striatis ; europigio albo, cauda 

 grisea obscure fasciata. 



W e have lately received this species in a considerable collection from 

 New Holland, and have very little hesitation in considering it as yet unde- 

 scribed. It is from the neighbourhood of Sidney, and is the only speci- 

 men in the collection, — we may add the only one that has come under our 

 observation. In general form and colour it closely resembles the females 

 of the true Circi, particularly of our own British species, that of the C. ra- 

 nivorus of Africa, and of the C. histrionicus. It is, however, a larger and 

 more powerful bird than any of these. 



The length of our specimen is twenty-two, the breadth of the extended 

 wings about forty-six inches. The upper parts of the plumage are a rich 

 blackish-brown with purple reflections, which incline to reddish-brown on 

 the head and neck, and which are edged with pale reddish-brown or white. 

 The under parts are pale reddish-brown, having the centre of each feather 

 marked with a longitudinal streak of a darker shade ; the under wing-co- 

 verts, and the feathers which spring from the axillas, are of a deep reddish 

 colour, and are strongly barred ; the rump is white, as in many of the con- 

 geners ; the tail, when closed, is brownish-grey, obscurely and irregularly 

 clouded with a darker shade ; the outer feathers have a bright reddish 

 tinge, and have the bars more numerous and less distinct ; the legs are 

 bright gamboge-yellow, and very long in proportion. 



H 



