RED GOSHAWK. 
rest had evidently been eaten. One day, near the lagoon at Coomooboolaroo, 
a flock of Wood Ducks {Ghenonetta jubata) was feeding in the grass about 
thirty yards from me, when I saw an Astur radiatus approaching, and it 
was also observed by the Ducks, which at once made a dash for the water. 
Like a flash the bird of prey was among them, striking down and killing 
one before they reached the margin of the lagoon. . . Subsequently 
Mr. Barnard reported the finding of another nest on the 3rd October, 1893, 
with two recently-hatched young, but in March, 1907, he recorded : ‘ Astur 
radiatus has entirely left this district ; I have not seen one for many 
years.’ ” 
Mr. E. D. Barnard, in the Emu, Vol. II., p. 99, 1902, wrote : “ On the 
18th of March I got a cheap duck. I had been putting horses into a 
paddock. In the adjoining paddock there were 20 or 30 Wood Ducks 
feeding. Suddenly they flew into the water. Looking to see the cause 
of their alarm, I saw one Duck quacking and making for the lagoon, with 
a Hawk running at her side and holding on to her neck. She got nearlv 
to the water and then fell over. I waited till the Hawk started plucking 
her and then went over. The Hawk flew away, and I took charge. As 
far as I could make out it appeared to be a Radiated Goshawk. He must 
have been a new hand at the game, for he picked a thin Duck.” 
There are too few specimens available to determine whether subspecies 
can be defined, but if so there is a name available, as will be noted 
hereafter. 
In the Nov. Zool, 1912, I referred the species to Astur and admitted 
the North-western bird, as it had been described as a valid species by 
Campbell. In my “ List ” in 1913 I rejected the reference to Astur and 
also suppressed Campbell’s name altogether. I have discussed the genus 
name and would comment upon North’s reference of it to the Buteoninse 
and his use of the vernacular Buzzard. There is no valid reason for 
such usage, though I do not deny that it may later be proved io be 
nearer Buteo than Astur. At the present time the usage of the genus 
Erythrotriorchis is imperative, but the vernacular is doubtful. 
As noted above, the receipt of specimens from North-west Australia 
caused Campbell, ignorant of its plumage-changes, to describe it as a new 
species. I am quite unable to even appreciate subspecific differences, but 
hereafter give all that has been written about the North-western bird. 
The reference to Megatriorchis I have already noted under the generic 
headings. 
This bird is so rare and little known that when an adult female 
was procured at Napier Broome Bay, North-west Australia, in 1910, 
91 
