IP Hi _A_ T IE 



XIIXIIXII. 



GENUS CIRCUS (Lace'pkde). 



rpwo h arriers are found in Australia, both assimilating to those m other parts of the world 



CIKCUS ASSIMILIS (Jard. and Selb.J 

 ALLIED HARRIER. 



THIS species is found in ail the southern colonies of Australia, and also in Tasmania, frequenting 

 marshy places. 



It feeds on birds and small quadrupeds, and also on lizards and other reptiles. It seldom 

 flies high, but generally skims along near the surface of the ground, uttering meanwhile a loud shrill whistle. 



The eggs, which are pure white in colour, are one and seven-eighths inches long by one and 

 a half inches wide. 



The female is larger than the male, and also differs in the markings being less well defined. 



Head and upper surface, dark brown ; face, bufty-white, with a dark line down the centre of 

 each feather ; wings, dark brown, the primaries having a spot of black ; tail, brownish-grey, the base 

 being greyish-white ; under surface, light buff" each feather with a streak of reddish-brown down the 

 centre ; irides, legs, and feet, yellow ; bill and claws, black. 



Habitats : New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. 



CIRCUS JARDIXII (Gould). 



JARDINE'S HARRIER. 



THE Circus Jardinii is found in all the eastern portion of Australia, including the interior of 

 South Australia. 



It differs from all the other Harriers in the spotted plumage, but in the character of the 

 country frequented, and also in the kind of food, it assimilates closely to them. 



As is usual with these birds, the female is considerably larger and more powerful than the male. 



The head, cheeks, and ear-coverts are dark chestnut, each feather with a mark of brown 

 down the centre ; back, grey ; under surface, light chestnut, each feather spotted with white ; wing- 

 feathers, brownish-grey, with spots of white ; tail, alternately barred with grey and dark brown ; upper 

 tail coverts, brown ; irides, yellow ; bill, black ; legs and feet, brownish-yellow. 



Habitats : Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, 



