BAZA. 
15 
EL ANUS SCRIPT US, Gould. 
Letter-winged Kite. 
Gould, Handbk., Bdn. Aust., Yol. i., sp. 24, p. 55. 
1 he Letter-winged Kite was at one time common on the Keilor 
Plains near Melbourne ; the last specimen I procured was a fine 
male, it was hovering at dusk in a paddock at Moonee Ponds, 
catching the field mice which constitute its food. 
Tho mode of nidification, and the colour and disposition of the 
markings of the eggs are similar to the preceding species. Eggs 
three in number for a sitting. An average specimen in my own 
collection, taken at Keilor in September 1881, is of a dull white 
ground colour, heavily blotched with chocolate-brown markings, 
the only part of the ground colour clearly visible being at the 
smaller end. Length 17 inch x 1-27 inch in breadth. 
This species breeds during the months of September and October. 
Unh. Wide Bay District, Richmond and Clarence Rivers 
District, New South Wales, Interior, Victoria and South 
Australia. (Jinmsay.) 
Genus BAZA, Hodgson . 
BAZA SURCRISTATA, Gould. 
Crested Hawk. 
Gould, Handbk. Bdn. Aunt ., Vol. i., sp. 25, p. 56. 
The nidification of this species, the single representative of the 
genus found in Australia is described by Dr. Ramsay, as follows ; 
“ During my recent trip to the North Richmond River, via 
Grafton, 1 met with this rare species upon several occasions. I 
found it giving preference to the edges of the scrubs on the 
Richmond and Clarence Rivers, whence it would sally out to the 
more open parts in the mornings and evenings in search of food, 
and not unfrequently visit the slaughtering establishments in the 
vicinity of the townships.” 
