PLATE XXXIX. 



GENUS HIERACIDEA. 



^~^NE species of the above genus inhabits the eastern portion of Australia, and another the western. 



HIERACIDEA OCCIDENTALS (Gould). 



WESTERN BROWN HAWK. 



THIS species is found in South and Western Australia, the range extending right up to the 

 North-West Coast. 



As might be inferred from the fact that the food consists of frogs, lizards, and such other 

 animals, it frequents principally swampy places. It also captures the smaller kinds of birds, 

 and, in fact, will eat any kind of flesh obtainable. 



During the months of September and October from two to four eggs are laid in a nest 

 which is composed of sticks, and placed among the thick foliage of a high tree. The eggs are 

 generally buffy-white, blotched with rich brown, but sometimes the latter colour pervades the whole 

 surface. Their length is two inches, and the breadth one and a-half inch. 



The crown of the head and upper surface are rust-red, becoming darker on the rump, where 

 each feather is tipped with greyish-white ; wings, dark brown, the primaries margined with greyish- 

 white, and the w r ing-coverts with light rufous ; tail, dark brown, crossed by irregular bars- of reddish- 

 brown, and tipped with buffy-white ; ear-coverts, brownish-grey ; forehead, white ; under surface, very 

 pale buffy-white, each feather with a fine stripe of reddish-brown ; irides, red ; bill, bluish lead-colour ; 

 legs and feet, ashy-grey. 



Habitats : South and Western Australia. 



HIERACIDEA BERIGORA (Gould). 



BROWN HAWK. 



THE present bird somewmat resembles its congener, but is considerably larger, and has the general 

 plumage darker. 



It is found in considerable abundance in New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, where, 

 although to a certain extent destructive to the poultry, it still does great service to the farmers by 

 ridding them of the caterpillars and other noxious insects. During seasons in which these are 

 numerous it is seen in flocks of hundreds, though usually it associates in pairs. 



