146 TlMEHRI. 
found in the owls, to which, however, they are by no 
means closely allied. The nostril in the spotted harrier 
is oval, while in the preceding genus it is round. 
The colouring in this species is very variable accord- 
ing to the age or seasonal changes of the bird. The 
tints above are sometimes brown, more or less marked 
with reddish or brownish yellow ; the quills and tail 
greyish, barred with black or brown ; and the under sur- 
face a striped or blotched dark brown, or black, and yel- 
lowish-white, with a yellowish-brown ruff: sometimes 
black throughout, with ashy-grey and black barred wings 
and tail, and with white spotted facial ruff ; or again 
this latter general character may be retained with the 
exception of the breast and belly, which become white 
with scattered spots or narrow stripes of black, more 
abundant on the lower breast and belly. 
This is one of the commonest of the coast birds 
being found along all the lower or tidal parts of the main 
creeks, where it can be readily distinguished, when 
perching, by its long wings, legs and tail ; but it is much 
more easily recognised in flight by the spread of its 
wings and tail, on which the numerous black and grey 
bars are very conspicuous. It commonly goes by the 
name of " snake-hawk," and is always very abundant 
among the bushy tree growths along the savannah 
streams and by swampy places, where it may pick up 
snakes, lizards and frogs. It is particularly abun- 
dant on the Abary, and is frequently met with in 
the Mahaicony and the Hoobaboo and other creeks. 
Occasionally it will be encountered perched on a 
tree, tearing to pieces some unfortunate bird, such 
as the awkward and slow-flying old witch or Ani cuckoo 
