AVIFAUNA OF LAYSAN, ETC. 



235 



53. CIRCUS HUDSONIUS (L.). 



Falco hudsonius, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. xii., i. p. 128 (1766). 



Strix delicatula (sic), Dole, Proc. Boston Soc. N. H. 1869, p. 295 (teste Dole, 187!)!). 

 Accipiter hawaii, Dole, Hawaiian Alman. 1871), p. 43 (reprint in Ibis, 1880, p. 241). 

 Circus hudsonius, Wilson & Evans, Aves Hawaiiens. (text) part li. (1891). 



This Harrier is a winter straggler to the Sandwich Islands. Mr. Wilson (I. c.) is inclined to 

 think that it only visits Oahu, but Dole (1870) says : — " Sab. Hawaii, rare on the rest of 

 the group." This ornithologist has not distinguished himself in connection with this bird, 

 first referring to it under the name of Strix delicatula, then describing it as a new species 

 of Sparrow-hawk in the following terms :— 



"Accipiter hawaii. ' Io.' 14 in. long. Dark brown above ; throat dull white ; breast 

 mottled brown and white; dull white feathers on legs and abdomen. Legs feathered below 

 tarsi. Strong back claw. Legs and feet light and scaly. Never before described. 

 Confounded with Strix delicatula of Samoa and Fiji Islands in previous lists. Sparrow- 

 hawk. Similar to young Accipiter rufitorques of Eiji Islands. 



" Hab. Hawaii, rare on the rest of the group. 



" Preys on small birds, chickens and mice, and probably larger animals, as the following 

 incident would suggest " 



Here follows an incredible story, describing how one such bird " circled over a dog, flew 

 to a pile of stones and took one in its claws, flew back to its old position over the dog as if 

 intending to drop it on to the dog, but finally carried it back and placed it on the pile where 

 it had taken it from." Mr. Dole believes that " this manoeuvre would seem to show that the 

 bird was accustomed to use stones in this way for killing its prey or its enemies." 



The author then adds : "I suggest the above name for this bird. Specimen in Mills's 

 collection, Hilo Hawaii t " Mr. Wilson is inclined to refer the story of the stone to Buteo 

 soli tardus, lie has examined two specimens and was the first to correct the mistake of Dole. 



Palmer did not procure a specimen, but he says that he saw it twice. 



2k 



