ASTUR RADIATUS.
Radiated Goshawk.
Falco radiatus, Lath. Ind. Om. Supp., p. x ii—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. vii. p. 177.
Radiated Falcon, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 53. pi. cxxi.—Ib. Gen. Hist., vol. i. p. 222. pi. xi.
Haliaetus Calei, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 186.
T h e bird here represented I conceive to be the true Falco radiatus o f Latham ; it is but little known to
ornithologists, from the circumstance th at few specimens; only have been-sent to Europe. I t inhabits the
dense brushes bordering the rivers Manning and Clarence on the eastern coast of New South.Wales, and
doubtless enjoys a much greater range than we are a t present acquainted with. It; is the largest of
the Goshawks inhabiting Australia, far exceeding in size the Astur palumbarim of Europe. In some parts of
its structure it differs considerably from the typical Asturs, particularly in the lengthened form o f the middle
toe, in which respect it resembles the true Accipiters; in its plumage it somewhat differs from both
those forms, the markings of most o f the feathers taking a longitudinal instead of a transverse direction;
these differences may hereafter be considered of sufficient importance to warrant its separation into a
distinct genus, but for the present I have retained it with the other Goshawks in that of Astur. O f its
habits and economy nothing whatever is known.
The male has the whole of the upper surface blackish brown, each feather broadly margined with rust-
red ; wings brown, crossed by narrow bands o f darker brown; tail greyish brown, crossed by irregular bands
of dark brown; shafts of the quills and tail bully-brown; throat huff, deepening into the rich rust-red o f the
under surface o f the shoulder and the whole o f the under surface; all the feathers o f the under surface with
a narrow stripe of black down the c e n tre ; thighs and under tail-coverts rust-red without stripes.
The female resembles her mate in colour and in the disposition o f the markings, but has the stria: of the
under surface broader and more conspicuous.
The figures are those of a male and a female about two-thirds'of the natural size.