t 
THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
In 1874, in the Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum^ Vol. I., 
p. 117, Sharpe admitted this species but revived for it the name given by 
Vieillot in 1817, which had been overlooked, viz. Sparvius cinereus. As 
Astur cinereus this bird was then known until 1906, when Sharpe, 
dealing with the Watling Drawings in the Hist. Coll. Nat. Hist. Brit. Mus., 
Vol. II., p. 112, wrote: 
“ Nos. 14, 15. Fair Falcon, Lath.> Gen. Syn. Suppl.^ II., p. 54. 
Falco clarus Lath., Ind. Orn. Buppl., p. xiii.” 
These two figures seem to be undoubtedly intended for Astur cinereus 
(cf. Sharpe, Cat. Birds, I., p. 117), though in the “ Catalogue ” I referred 
Latham’s “Fair Falcon” to A. novcehollandice. This must be a mistake, 
but the figures are by no means a good representation of A. cinereus, over 
which Latham’s name will take precedence, and the species must be called 
Astur clarus (Lath.).” Sharpe’s correction was accepted by me in my 
Handlist ” 1908 and has been used by me ever since. 
Upon careful reconsideration of Latham’s description and examination 
of the Watling Drawings I now advise the rejection of Latham’s name and 
reversion to the now weU-known specific name of cinerea. 
Latham’s description of F{alco) clarus. Index Ornith. Suppl., II., p. xiii., 
reads : 
“ F. fuscus, capite and corpore subtus albo, vertice and abdomine medio 
cserulescentibus. 
“ Fair Falcon, Gen. Syn. Suppl., II., p. 54, No. 66. 
“ Habitat in Nova Hollandia ; rostrum fuscescens ; irides and pedes flavi : 
variat nucha nigro maculata, uropygio cserulescente, cauda apice pallida.” 
No size is here given, and this is simply a rough Latin translation 
of the account of the “ Fair F(alcon) ” which reads : 
“ The length of this species is about twelve inches ; the bill is pale 
brown ; legs and irides yellow ; head, neck before, and all beneath, white ; 
the crown of the head and middle of the belly pale blue ; back, wings, and 
tail brown ; the bend of the wing brownish-blue, occupying in an oblique 
manner above hah the coverts. 
“ Inhabits New Holland, but neither name nor manners are recorded. 
Another, very similar, was spotted on the nape with black ; the back paler ; 
rump pale dusky blue ; tail tipped with pale colour ; all beneath white, but 
not tinged anywhere with blue.” 
These descriptions are drawn up from the Watling Drawings, and 
examination of No. 14 shows it to be the basis of the principal portion. This 
figure has marked on it : “ Half the natural size,” and measures 130 mm. in 
length. Though not mentioned in the description, there are mottlings of 
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