1 
THE BIBDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
numerous opportunities of observing both birds in a state of nature, I regard 
them as distinct ; and in confirmation of this opinion I may state that the 
present bird, which is from the eastern coast, is always the largest, has the 
cere blue-grey, and the plumage of the adult light brown, sparingly blotched 
with white on the breast ; while the H. occidentalis of the western coast is 
a more delicately formed bird, has the cere yellow and the breast white, 
with faint lines of brown down the centre of each other. . . . The 
Hieracidea occidentalis, which is very generally spread over Western and 
Southern Australia, loves to dwell in swampy places, where it may at all times 
find an abundant supply of lizards, frogs and newts, to which are added young 
birds, insects, caterpillars and carrion. As its small legs, compact body, and 
lengthened pointed wings would indicate, it flies with ease, making long 
sweeps and beautiful curves, which are often performed near the ground. 
The smaller size of this bird renders it a somewhat less formidable enemy to 
the denizens of the farm-yard than the Brown Hawk ; still, considerable 
vigilance on the part of the stockkeepers is necessary to check its depredations 
among the broods of poultry, ducks, etc.” 
Gould’s disposition was admitted until 1874, when in the Catalogue of 
the Birds in the British Museum, Vol. I., Sharpe indicated a supposed error, 
stating that the type of H. herigora was the same as Gould’s H. occidentalis 
and taking up Schlegel’s name of orientalis for the commoner bird. It has 
not been recognised that Sharpe referred to Gould’s pictures only, or he 
would not have written what he did as quoted by North and noted above. 
I here contrast Sharpe’s description of the type of herigora with Gould’s 
description of his herigora, and it will be seen they are equivalent. 
Sharpe. Gould. 
Upper-surface sandy-brown, strongly Centre of the back reddish-brown. 
inclining to rufous, with which colour 
most of the feathers are edged, 
excepting the scapulars and inner 
secondaries, where the margins 
incline to fulvous. 
Head a little lighter than the back, 
with blackish shaft-stripes. 
Under-surface of the body creamy- 
white, with brownish shaft-stripes. 
scapularies and wing-coverts 
brown, crossed with conspicuous 
bars and spots of ferruginous. 
Crown of the head ferruginous- 
brown, with a fine black line down 
the centre of each feather. 
Throat, chest, centre of the abdo- 
men, and under tail-coverts pale 
buff, with a fine line of brown 
down each side of the feather. 
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