THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
it, specimens frequently being found with the lower beak cut completely off 
and the tongue pierced by the powerful hind claw of this Goshawk. It is one 
of the most fearless of the Hawks. We compelled a Goshawk to drop its 
prey just at the point of capture, and, hiding the small bird under a tree, sat 
down to await developments. At first the Goshawk tried to frighten us by 
swooping around, and failing that, retreated to a distant tree as though giving 
up all idea of regaining what it had lost. After twenty minutes’ waiting it 
sidled along a fence, where it probably thought that we could not see it. 
Again checked, it returned from another direction several times, until it was 
able to snatch the dead bird. Farmers believe that many of their losses in 
chicken-rearing are due to this bird. A form with a richer-coloured back 
may possibly be A. cmentus, the Lesser Goshawk.” 
This reference to A. cruentus as occurring in Victoria seems to have 
originated in an idea owing to the individual variation seen in this species, 
Campbell (p. 8) writes : “ Victoria (casual) ; while individuals casually reach 
eastern parts.” As will be hereafter shown, cruentus'^^ has been misapplied 
and the true cruentus is scarcely separable from the Victorian bird, and 
could not be recognised at sight if at all. As far as I can judge, the older 
birds are more coloured as to the back, but soon wear dull ; consequently 
Miss Cheney’s bird would be a freshly-moulted old bird. I have such under 
my eyes now from Victoria procured at the same time and place as dull- 
colored birds. 
The following note by Mr. Tom Carter is the only one I have with 
reference to the true U. f. cruenta : “ The Goshawk is fairly well distributed 
through the State, but much more numerous in the Mid-west than South- 
west, as all bird-life is much more plentiful there (except when a drought 
is on). About Broome Hill they seem to be fond of catching and eating the 
Magpie Larks {Grallina picta).^’ 
I have no notes about U. f. didima. 
As an introduction to the complicated history of the nomination of this 
bird I would quote Gould’s account : “ Among the whole of the Australian 
Falconidse there is no species the scientific appellation of which is involved 
in so much confusion as that of the present bird. This has arisen from two 
causes — first, from its having been erroneously considered to be identical 
with the Falco radiatus of Latham, from which it is entirely distinct ; and 
secondly, from the difference which exists between the plumage of the 
adult and young being so great as to have led to a multiplication of specific 
names. Seven specimens of this Hawk formed part of the collection of the 
Linnean Society^, now dispersed, and were those from which Messrs. Vigors 
and Horsfield took their descriptions of Astur radiatus, A. fasciatus and 
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