b A KEY TO THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA KEY. TO THE. BIRDS 2F AUSTRALIA WITH THEIR GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION BY ROBERT HALL, < F.L.S., C.M.Z.S. . of ".Tqe Insectivorous Birds of Victoria " Joint flutter of " Nature Studies iq Australia." SECOND WALKER, MAY AND CO., MACKILLOP-ST. R. H. PORTER, 7 PRINCES-ST., CAVENDISH SQUARE, W. [COPYRIGHT.] BIOLOGY LIBRARY G MELBOURNE I WALKER, MAY AND CO., PRINTERS, MACKILLOP STREET. PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION. fHE text of this edition, based upon the British Museum classification, remains very much as originally printed, while attention is drawn to the lists of " Additions and Altera- tions " and to " Species and Sub-Species Recently Described as New." The photographs are from John Gould's " Birds of Australia," and I am indebted to my friend, Mr. F. Verrell Heath, for his assistance. The dimensions provided are approximate. I found it impossible to get at the authors' meanings of a few of the genera and species. My thanks for help are due to my friends Messrs. E. R. Pitt and W. J. Stephen. Professor T. G. Tucker, Litt. D., in the hours of a busy life, found time to place the accents upon the words and read the proof-sheets of derivations here supplied — in general, to act as my adviser. This appeals to me as a contribution of much value, and my best thanks go very willingly to him. R. H. MELBOURNE, September, 1906. 290628 PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION. fHE opportunity to publish a " Key to the Birds of Australia " is practically given in the catalogues of the British Museum dealing with the birds of the world, commenced in 1872 and concluded in the present year. The Key, comprising in each case a concise digest of the 770 species of birds found in Australia and Tasmania, is built principally upon these catalogues. Many descrip- tions are exactly reproduced, others are added to, and a portion is described from the author's collection. The classification is almost wholly that of the British Museum, while the nomenclature is entirely so. Gould's and Eamsay's names appear as synonyms in nearly all cases, and the most important vernaculars of late use are bracketed after each species. The systematic work done by Mr. North, of the Australian Museum, has aided me in the digest of the Accipitres. The geographical distribution of our birds is here placed very much upon the plan of sub-regions defined by Professor Spencer in the " Horn Expedition Eeport (Zool.)," and it appears to me an appro- priate one. I have consulted with advantage Dr. Ramsay's " Geographical Distribution of Australian Birds," in tabular form. The method of locating the birds adopted here differs from that in so far as sub- regions, and not colonies and towns, are used. The appendix map indicates the Eyrean, Torresian, and Bassian sub-regions, as proposed by Professor Spencer, and these again are divided into nine areas. The Torresian embraces Ramsay's Northern Territory towns and a portion of Carpentaria in 1 ; a portion of Carpentaria and North Queensland in 2 ; South Queensland, with the Richmond and Clarence Rivers, in 3. The Bassian sub-region welds the eastern parts of New South Wales and Victoria and Tasmania tdgether — the first two as 4, and the last as 5. The Eyrean sub-region includes Central and Western Australia, and the northern and western parts of Victoria and the interior of New South Wales. Dr. Ramsay unites Victoria with South Australia, but I find that the parts of Victoria and South Australia included in the Eyrean region constitute, so far as the avifauna is concerned, one area, designated 6 ; Central Australia forms area 7 ; North- West Australia forms area 8 ; and Western Australia forms area 9. In the allocation of species to definite areas it is to be borne in mind that the boundaries are only those absolutely kept to by the species Vll as a whole. In cases in which birds are not what one would call quite common to the areas, the numeral indicating the area is bracketed. Briefly it may be stated that the stronghold of Australian Passeres lies in area 3, and I will remark upon the distribution of this strong order, because it practically covers the points of geographical interest in the orders of our land birds. AREA 1.— It is most nearly allied to 2. Of 54 genera 120 species, there are 6 genera 44 species not repre- sented in 2, 16 genera 84 species not in 7, 19 genera 65 species not in 8. Genera absent from 2 are Struthidea and Tseniopygia ; absent in 7, Oriolus, Pcecilodryas, Piezorhynchus, Chibia, Pitta ; absent from 8, Oriolus, Smicrorn'is, Sericornis, Megalurus. Pachycephala simplex, Cracticus argenteus, Climacteris inelanonota, and six other species are peculiar to this area. In order Fulicariae there is one genus (Poliolimnas) not found elsewhere. AREA 2. — Although not so strong in genera as 3 to the extent of 12 per cent., it has more species (12 per cent.) Of the 76 genera 174 species, there are 13 genera 82 species missing from 3, 27 genera 109 species not in 1, 30 genera 121 species not in 7. Area 7 recipro- cates with 50 per cent, less genera common to 2 than are common to 7 and 3. Genera absent in 3 — Craspedophora, Prionodura, Heteromyias, Arses, Calornis [origin Papua, except in Prionodura (?)] , absent in 1, Ptilorhis, Geocichla, Acanthiza, Meliphaga, Meliornis (all present in 3) ; absent in 7, Cinnyris, 'Phonygama, Craspedophora, Calornis (all absent in 3 also), Ptilorhis. It has 30 species and 6 genera peculiar to it, no other area having more than one genus peculiar to it. Although 9 has half as many species, it has no genus of its own (only one beyond the Passeres). It would appear area 2 has been first populated and area 9 the last, as further figures indicate. The peculiar genera are:— Craspedophora, Phonygama, Hetero- myias, Scenopseus, Cinnyris, and Calornis. AREA 3. — Apparently it expands into 4 and 7, and slightly so into 2, though from the latter it has probably acquired originally a con- siderable part of its avifauna. It is represented most strongly in 2 (76 genera 174 species), next in 4 (71 genera 121 species), and less so in 7 (65 genera 126 species). The distribution of genera and species from 3 to 2 is continued in a lesser degree from 2 to 1, and still more so from 1 to 8, there largely terminating as the westerly expansion along the northern route. Of the 83 genera and 153 species in 3, 16 genera and 53 species are wanting in 2, 15 genera and 47 species are absent from 4, while 28 genera and 71 species are. not in 7. The number of genera (65) and species (126) in 7 show it — witn remarks under 2 and 4 — to be less strongly related to 3 than are 2 and 4. The genera of 3 — Cinclosoma, Gymnorhina, Acanthorhynchus, Staganopleura, and Zonseginthus — are absent in 2, though present in 4, while Pseudogerygone, Poecilodryas, Plectrorhynchus, Bathilda, and Poephila are in 2 and absent in 4. The genera Eopsaltria, Atrichia, Meliornis, Aeluroedus, and Piezorhynchus do not pass into 7. Vlll The genus Sericulus is peculiar to 3, but only two species — Menura alberti and Collyriocincla cerviniventris — are limited to it. AREA 4. — This is the southern extension of 3, and with it is closely associated 5 ; indeed, the latter may be expanded as a southern offshoot of 4. The two areas 4 and 5, on the other hand, differ in important respects from 6 and 7. Of the 71 genera 121 species there are 4 genera 28 species absent from 3 ; 21 genera 52 species absent from 6 ; 25 genera 66 species absent from 7. In 5 there are 39 genera 90 species absent. Genera absent — in 3, Pycnoptilus, Monarcha, Calamanthus ; in 6, Oriolus, Myiagra, Sphenura, Psophodes, Atrichia ; in 7, Pycnoptilus, Menura ; in 5, -ZEgintha, Ptilonorhynchus, Piezorhynchus, Menura. The genus peculiar to this area is Pycnoptilus, the species Manorhina melanophrys, Ptilotis cassidix, Menura superba, Menura victorise, Sericornis osculans, Pycnoptilus floccosus. AREA 5. — The insular area of 4. Of 34 genera 55 species, it does not appear to hold a genus not common with 4, unless Acanthornis (of Legge, Sericornis of other authors) stands alone. The relation- ship is not so strong with 6, for while 1 genus 14 species are not in 4, there are 4 genera 29 species not found in 6. The reciprocal of 6 to 5 in number of genera and species (36 genera 103 species) is practically the same as that of 4 to 5 (39 genera 91) species). Genera absent in 6, Myiagra, Cisticola, and Stipiturus (all present in 4). Peculiar to the island are 14 species. AREA 6. — Apparently the relation is to 7, 9, and 4, in that order. The total number of genera is 65, species 117. Absent in 4 are 17 genera 53 species; in 9, 11 genera 61 species; in 7, 5 genera 24 species. Genera absent — in 4, Drymacedus, Xerophila, Oreoica, Entomophila, (all in 4). The species peculiar to this area are Xerophila pectoralis and Mirafra secunda, AREA 7. — It has 65 genera and 126 species, and although it appears to be more closely related to 6, it is closely related to 3. In this area there are 5 genera 29 species absent from 6; 10 genera 49 species absent in 3 ; 16 genera 46 species absent in 9 ; 19 genera 69 species absent in 2 ; 21 genera 68 species absent in 4 ; 26 genera 96 species absent in 1 ; 31 genera 92 species absent in 8. Area 5 is practically 4. In the separate areas it will be noticed that the relationship between area 7 and other areas is in the following order : — 8, 1, 4, 2, 9, 3, 6, area 8 showing the most^ marked difference, and 6 the strongest affinity. The closest relationship appears to be to 6, then 3, 9, 2, 4, 1, 8 in order. The boundary between 6 and 7 is not a strong one. In 7, absent from 6, are — Bathilda, Ernblema, Aidemosyne, Myiagra, Gerygone ; absent from 3, Struthidea, Aruytis, Drymacedus, Calamanthus, Entomophila ; absent from 9, Lalage, Smicrornis, Myiagra, Sphenostoma, Entomyza; absent from 2, Pteropodocys, Acanthochaera, Amytis, Calamanthus, Staganopleura ; absent from 4, Chlamydodera, Xerophila, Oreoica, Entomophila, Emblema ; absent from 1, Corcorax, Cinclosoma, Acanthiza, Falcuiiculus, Strepera; absent from 8, Amytis, Sericornis, Hylacola, Zosterops, Megalurus. There are no known genera peculiar to 7. The follow- ing species are not beyond it : — Rhipidura albicauda, Amytis goyderi, Calamanthus isabellinus, Xerophila nigricincta. IX AREA 8.— It is most closely related to 1. Of the 45 genera 76 species there are 5 genera 20 species absent from 1 ; 6 genera 37 species absent from 7 ; 13 genera 50 species not in 9. Area 9 seems to repel 8 ; 8 is in strong sympathy with 1, and slightly so with 7. Genera absent in 1, Emblema, Amytis, Acrocephalus (the only gap) ; in 9, Cisticola, Philemon, Myiagra, Munia, Peophila ; in 7, Stipiturus, Pcecilodryas, Neochmia, Munia. The following species are peculiar to this area: — Malurus coronatus, Gerygone cinerascens, Cinclosoma marginatum, Pachycephala lanioides. AREA 9. — It has 59 genera 93 species, and seems to be derived in two ways — from 6 and 7. Genera in 9 absent from 6 are — Psophodes, Atrichia, Stipiturus, and Sphenura (all in area 4), while those absent in 7 are Stipiturus, Acanthorynchus, Meliornis, Pseudogerygone. From this, and remarks under 6, it would appear the avifauna of the south-west is largely derived from 6, that of the west proper from 7. The genera here absent from 8, or very feebly represented by a single species in sparse quantity, are those strong ones of the east and south-east — Sericornis, Acanthiza, and Zosterops ; others being Amytis and Gymnorhina. Three-fourths of the species and half the genera of 9 are absent from 8. In 9 there are 4 genera (also in 4) and 37 species that are not in 6, while in 6 there are 11 genera and 61 species that are not in 9. Present in 9, but absent in 7, are 7 genera and 36 species, while there are 16 genera and 64 species in 7 absent in 9. To this area there is no Passerine genus peculiar, but there are 17 species. In the order Psittaci there is Porphyrocephalus confined to 9. In a more limited way the smaller orders help to support this scheme of distribution, the idea of which was in part suggested by Professor Baldwin Spencer, Hon. Director of the National Museum. E. H. Box HILL, VICTORIA, August, 1899. A SYNOPSIS OF THE ORDERS. PAGE L—ACCIPITRES.— Birds of Prey. Bill short, strong, stout at the base, the culmen strongly curved. Feet strong, armed with powerful talons ; talons capable of being bent under the feet, the inner one being stronger than the others and more curved ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 II.— PASSERES.— Perching Birds proper. Palate segithognathous. Vomer is broadened and blunt or truncated at the anterior end. Maxillo-palatines widely separated ... ... 7 III. — PICARI^E. — This is an order opposed to the Passeres, pri- marily on account of the relatively smaller and weaker feet in the -Australian forms (example, Podargus). It is pro- visional ... ... .. ... ... ... 54 IV. — PSITTACI. — Feet permanently zygodactyl by reversion of the fourth toe, covered with plates. Bill short and very stout, strongly hooked or epignathous, and furnished with a cere 60 V. — COLUMB^E.— Pigeons. Rostrum swollen at the tip, convex ; its basal portion has a soft skin, in which lie the nostrils, with a valve over them. Tarsi covered fore and rear with hexagonal scales. Palate schizognathous. Nostrils schizo- rhinal ... ... ... ... ... ... 68 VI. — GALLING. — Bill short and stout, the culmen arched and over- hanging the mandible. Maxillo-palatines not coalesced ... 73 VII.— HEMIPODIL— Button Quails, opposed to True Quails. Feet with three toes (except Pedionomus, which has the hallux). Maxillo-palatines not coalesced with one another ... ... 74 N VIII.— FULICARL^;.— Rails. The characters are osteological (Cata- logue Fossil Birds, pp. 143 and 144, Lydekker) ... ... 76 IX.— ALECTORIDES.— True Crane (Native Companion) and Bus- tard, in Australia. The angle of the mandible is always truncated. The hind toe is raised above the level of the other toes. [Mesites (extra- Australian) excepted] ... ... 78 X. — LIMICOLJ3. — Palate schizognathous. Primaries eleven, fifth secondary wanting. After shaft to the contour feathers present ... ... ... ... ... ... 79 XL — GAVI^E. — Front toes entirely connected by webs. Primaries, ten large and visible, one minute and concealed. Rectrices twelve. Palate schizognathous. Nasals schizorhinal ... 87 XI PAGE XII.— TUBIN ARES.— External nostrils are produced into tubes. Anterior toes are fully webbed ; hallux small or absent. Palate schizognathous. Nasals holorhinal. ... ... 91 XIII. — PL AT ALE /ft. — Ibis and Spoonbill. Posterior angle of man- dible recurved. Edge of cranium above the orbits truncate, indicating the position of the nasal glands ... ... 96 XIV.— HERO DIONES.— Heron-like Birds. Hallux free, not united to the other toes by a web. Nasals holorhinal. Palate desmognathous ... ... ... ... ... 97 XV.— STEGANOPODES.— Hallux united to the other toes by a web. Nasals holorhinal. Palate desmognathous .. ... 101 XVI.— PYGOPODES.— Grebes in Australia. Wing feathers de- veloped into remiges. Cnemial process of tibia produced forwards in a remarkable degree. Palate schizognathous ... 104 X VII. -IMPENNES.— Penguins. Bill never hooked. Nostrils pervious, holorhinal. Palate schizognathous ... ... 104 XVIII.— CHENOMOBPHyE.— Swans, Geese, and Ducks. Palate desmognathous. Young covered with down, and able to run or swim in a few hours after hatching ... ... ... 105 XIX. — CASUARII. — Emu-like Birds. Hallux absent ; middle phalanges shortened. Maxillo-palatines large, fused with vomer and premaxilla ... ... ... ... .„ 109 INTERSMPULKRY KtCIOH urn* rn(L cavern FIGUKE OF A BIRD, SHOWING ITS PRINCIPAL EXTERNAL CHARACTERS (QUAIL — DIAGRAMMATIC). CLASS-AYES. SUB-CLASS I.— CARINAT/E (STERNUM KEELED). ORDER— ACCXFITRES (BIRDS OF FRET). Bill short, strong, stout at the base, the culmen strongly curved. Feet strong, armed with powerful talons ; talons capable of being bent under the feet, the inner one being strouger than the others and more curved. Sub-order— Falcones. With no facial disc ; plumage compact ; nostrils generally not concealed by bristles ; outer toe not reversible ; toes devoid of feathers. FAMILY— FALCONID^E. Head covered with feathers, though the sides of the face are more or less bare. SUB-FAMILY-^ AQUILINE. Hinder aspect of tarsus reticulate ; commissure of bill simply festooned. GENUS— UROAETUS.— Tail strongly graduated. 1. U aildax, Latham (Aquila audax, Gray), Wedge-tailed Eagle (Eaglehawk). General colour, black in adult, rufous in young. Total length, 38 in. : culmen, 3 in. ;,wjng, 24*2 in. ; tail, 17'5 in. ; tarsus, 4'8 in. Hab. : 1 to 9. GENUS — NISAETUS. — Tail nearly square, the difference in length of middle and outer tail feathers inappreciable. 2. N. morphnoides, Gould (Aquila morphnoides), Little Eagle. Rufous beneath, each shaft streaked blackish. Total length, 21*5 in. ; bill, 1*75 in. ; wing, 15 in: ; tail, 9'5in. ; tarsi, 2*75 in. Hab. : 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9. GENUS — HALIAKTUS. — Tarsi bare on lower portion : nostrils more or less perpendicular ovals, with bony margin all round. 3. H. leilCOgaster, Gmelin, White-bellied Sea Eagle. Head and under surface white ; bill leaden blue ; wing not exceed- ing 24 in. Young. — Head buff; upper surface and wings chocolate brown; chest and abdomen buffy brown. Hab. : 1 to 9. GENUS — HALIASTUR. — Tarsi bare on lower portion ; nostrils circular, with bony margin all round. 4. H girreiiera, Vieillot (H. leucosternus, Gld.), sub-sp. of H. indus, White-headed Sea Eagle. Back and abdomen rich chestnut ; head and neck white ; tail maroon, with broad whitish tip. Young. — Head, breast, and abdomen brown, with long white streaks. Hab. : 1 to 4, 8. 2 5 II. SpheniirilS, Vigors, Whistling Eagle. Under surface sandy, with dark shafts ; tail uniform ashy- brown ; head and neck sandy coloured, with fulvous streaks. Young. — Less rufous ; white spots and streaks. Hab. : 1 to 4, 6 to 9. GENUS — MILVUS. — Nostrils oblique, almost linear ; distance from angle of mouth to anterior margin of nostril greater than distance from latter point to tip of beak ; tail forked, outer feather longest. 6. M, a Hi II is. Gld., Kite. Blackish above, rufous below ; head and throat brownish, with central stripe ; wing under 16 in. Hab. : 1, 2, 3, 6 to 9. GENUS -LOPHQICTINI A.— Nostrils oblique, almost linear; distances as measured in Milvus equal ; tail slightly forked, outer tail feather longest. 7. L. isura, Gld.. Long-winged Kite (Square- tailed Kite). Blackish-brown above, reddish orange below ; head shafts con- spicuously marked. Hab. : 3, 6, 7, 9. GENUS— GYPOICTINI A.— Nostrils oblique, almost linear ; tail rounded, outer feather shorter than middle one; ridge of bill (without cere) greater than half of middle toe (without claw) ; wings reaching to end of tail ; bare part of tarsus in front greater than half of middle toe (without claw). 8. G. melailOStema, Gld., Black-breasted Buzzard. Head and breast black. Adult male— Total length, 24 in. ; culmen, 2 '45 in. ; wing, 19 in. ; tail, 8 '5 in. ; tarsus, 2 65 in. ; middle toe, 1 -95 in. Hab. : 6 to 9. GENUS— ELANUS. — Bare part of tarsus in front less than middle toe. 9. E. axillarls, Lath. , Black-shouldered Kite General colour plumage greyish white, shoulder black, axillaries white. Hab. : 1 to 4, 6, 7, 9. 10. E. SCriptUS, Gld., Letter winged Kite. Plumage greyish white ; axillaries and broad bar across tinder wing coverts black. flab. : 3, 4, 6, 7, 9. SUB-FAMILY — FALCOXINJS. Hinder aspect of tarsus reticulate ; commissure of bill distinctly notched. N GENUS— BAZA.— Head crested. 11. B. SUbcriStata, Gld., Crested Hawk. Head and neck ashy-grey, with small occipital crest of black feathers ; rest of upper surface brown, the wing coverts and inter- scapular region greyish-black ; quills dark brown, broadly barred with black above and with greyish white under ; tail ashy-brown, with four black bars ; forehead, lores, and sides of face clearer ashy than head, as also the throat and chest, the chest washed with rufous, the breast banded alternately with buffy-white and chestnut- brown. Total length, 17 in. ; bill, 1 '2 in. ; wing, 13 5 in. ; tail, 9 in. ; tarsus, 1 %4 in. Hab. : 1, 2, 3, 7. CLASS— AV'ES : avis, bird. Sub-class I.— CARINA'T^E : carina, keel. Order— ACCIP'ITRES : accipiter, hawk. Sub-order— FALCON'ES : falco, falcon. Family— FALCON'ID^E : falco, falcon. Sub-family— AQUILI'N^: : aquila, eagle. Genus— UROA'ETUS : oura, tail ; aetos, eagle, au'dax : audax, bold. Species 24.— GOSHAWK (! nat. size). Genus-NISA'ETUS : nisus, a kind of small hawk. 2. morphnoi'des : morphnos, dusky ; eidos, form. Genus— HALIA'ETUS : hols, sea ; aetos, eagle. 3. leucogas'ter : Uukos, white ; gaster, belly. Genus-HALlASTUR : hals, sea ; astur, goshawk. 4. girrenera. 5. sphenu'rus : sphen, wedge ; oura, tail. Genua— MII/VUS : milvus, kite. 6. affl'nis : affinis, neighbouring. Genus— LOPHOICTI'NIA : lophos, crest ; iktinos, kite. 7. isu'ra : isos, equal ; oura, tail. Genus— GYPOICTI'NIA : gups, vulture ; iktinos, kite. 8 melanoster'na : melas, melanos, black ; sternon, breast. Genus— E'LANUS. 9. axillar'is : axilla, armpit. 10. scrip'tus : scriptus, marked (scribo, to write). Species 29. — BOOBOOK OWL (± nat. size). Sub-family— FALCONI'X^E : falco, falcon. Genus — BA'ZA. 11. subcrista'ta : sub, under ; crista, plume. Genus — FAL'CO : falco, falcon. 1'2. melano'genys : melas, melanos, black ; genus,' cheek. 13. hypoleu'cus : hi^po. under ; leukos, white. 14. sub niger : sub, under ; niger, black. 15. lunula'tus : lunula, crescent. * Genus— HIERACID'EA : hierax, hawk ; eidos, form, 16. berigora : berigora, aboriginal name of the hawk. 17. orienta'lis : orientalis, eastern. GENUS — FALCO. — Distance between tips of primaries and tips of second- aries more than half length of tail. 12. F. melailOgenyS, Old., Black-cheeked Falcon. Male. — Head, entire sides of face, cheeks, ear coverts deep black, upper surface blackish-brown, quills blackish, the outer secondaries with white tips ; throat creamy ; upper breast creamy with black stripes, rest of under surface buffy-white with close narrow bars. Thighs transversely barred. Total length, 15 in. ; wing, 11 '75 in. Female. — Similar but larger; underneath deep rusty, paler on chest. Hab. : 2 to 9. 13. F. hypoleilCUS, Gld., Grey Falcon. Thighs perfectly uniform, whitish or bluish-white. Above ashy, all feathers with blackish centres ; under surface of body entirely white, with buff shade en flanks and under tail coverts ; throat un- spotted, but rest of feathers underneath narrowly striped, except thighs. Total length, male 12 in., wing 11 in., tail6"25in. ; female 15 in., wing 12'5 in., tail 65 in Hab. : 1, 2, 3, 6, 7. 14. F. Sllbniger, Gray, Black Falcon. General colour plumage sooty-brown ; thighs perfectly uniform sooty-brown, like breast. Total length, male 17 in., wing 14P25 in. ; female 19 '5 in., wing 15 '75 in. Hab.: 3,4,6, 7. 15. F. llllllllJltllS. Lath., Little Falcon (White-fronted Falcon). Throat white ; breast and abdomen rufous ; thighs perfectly uniform rufous. Total length, male 11'5 in., wing 9'75 in.; female 13*5 in., wing 10-5 in. Hab. : 1 to 9. GENUS — HIERACIDEA. — Tarsus transversely plated near base of toes. 16. H. beHgora, Vig. and Hors. , Striped Brown Hawk. Upper surface sandy -brown, feathers of lower back and rump tipped with rufous ; under surface of body creamy-white, with fine brownish shaft stripes ; cere pale yellow. Large amount of white on under surface. Hab. : 6 to 9 17. H. orient Sllis, Schlegel, Brown Hawk. Above brown ; under surface of body creamy-buff to blackish- brown ; cere blue-grey. Hab. : 1 to 9. GENUS— CERCHNEIS.— Distance between tips of primaries and tips of secondaries greater than half the length of tail. 18. C. CenchrOldeS, Vig. and Hors. (Tinnunculus cenchroides), Kestrel. Tail rufous, barred with black and tipped with white ; head rufous, narrowly streaked with black. Total length, 11 5 in. ; culmen, 0'7 in. ; wing, 9'3 in.; tarsus, 1'5 in. Hab. : 1 to 9. SUB-FAMILY — ACCIPITRIN.E : LONG-LEGGED HAWKS. GENUS — CIRCUS. — Nostrils oval, with no bony excrescence. 19. C. assilllilis. Jardine and Selby (C. jardinii, Gld.), Spotted Harrier. Above bluish slate colour, feathers of back and wing coverts with white margins, crown of head brick-red, facial ruff pale bluish-grey ; under surface of body rufous, with white rounded spots. Young. — Ashy-brown above ; upper tail coverts white, washed with rufous, and having dark brown centres ; tail brown, with buff tips, and crossed with six black bars. Hab. : 1 to 9. 20 C. gOllldi, Bonaparte (C. assimilis, Gould's Handbook), Gould's Harrier, or Swamp-hawk. Earthy-brown above, most feathers of back with darker brown centres ; upper tail coverts white, with rufous spot on some ; tail ashy -grey, tipped with white, the central feathers entirely grey ; thighs white, with rufous streaks ; breast white, with brown stripes. Young. — Uniform sooty-brown above ; upoer tail coverts rufous ; wings brown, like back ; under surface of body brown, chestnut on abdomen, thighs, and under tail coverts ; tail nearly uniform brown tipped with buff. Hab. : 1 to 9. GENUS — ASTUR. — Hinder aspect of tarsus scaled; ridge of bill measured from anterior margin of cere is greater than half length of middle toe (without claw) . 21. A. cinereilS, Vieill., Grey Goshawk. Upper surface ashy-grey, breast white, tail ashy-grey. Hab. : 1 to 9. 22. A. no YSI'-ll Oil 2111