210 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA 
consists of birds and their young. The female is considerably larger 
than the male. 
Nest. — A small, flat structure, composed of sticks, and lined with 
leaves. Placed among the topmost branches or on a horizontal fork of a 
tree ; in the interior districts it selects low trees, but resorts to taller ones 
in the coastal areas. 
Eggs. — Two to four, bluish-white, sometimes spotted and blotched 
with reddish-brown or lavender markings. Breeding-season : September 
to January. 
12. Red Goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus Latham 
E-ryth' -ro-tri-orch’ -is — Gk, erythros, red; Gk, triorchus, bird of prey: 
rad-i-a-tus — L., radiatus, barred. 
Distribution. — Northern and eastern Australia, from Kimberley 
(north-western Australia) to New South Wales. 
Notes. — Also called Rufous-bellied Buzzard. It is a rare species, 
usually seen singly or in pairs, frequenting the margins of swamps and 
belts of timber bordering open country. Food: birds, reptiles, and small 
mammals. 
Nest. — A large structure, composed of sticks, and lined with leaves. 
Placed among the branches of a tall tree. 
Eggs. — Two, bluish-white, occasionally faintly smeared with pale 
brown or lavender markings. Breeding-season: August to November. 
13. Spotted Harrier Circus assimilis Jardine and Selby 
Cir-cus — Gk, circos, hawk: as-sim -i-lis — L., assimilis, similar. 
Distribution. — Australia generally, and Tasmania; also occurs from 
the Celebes to New Guinea. 
Notes. — Also called Spotted Swamp-hawk and Jardine’s Harrier. 
Usually singly or in pairs, frequenting open country generally. It is 
•mostly observed flying slowly above open plains, swamps, and cultivated 
lands; procures its food both on the wing and on the ground. Food: 
birds, reptiles, and small mammals. 
Nest. — A loosely constructed platform, composed of sticks, and lined 
with leaves ; usually well concealed in a bushy tree. 
Eggs. — Usually three, sometimes four, bluish-white, without gloss, 
the inside of the shell green. Breeding-season : August to October. 
14. Swamp-harrier Circus approximans Peale 
ap-prox’-i-mans — L., approximans, approaching. 
Distribution.-— Australia generally, and Tasmania; also occurs in New 
Caledonia, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, New Zealand, and Fiji. 
Notes. — Also called Gould’s Harrier, Allied Harrier, Swamp-hawk, 
Wheat-hawk, and Kahu. Usually singly or in pairs, frequenting swamps, 
