J . G cald a tu l H.C. R iclC tw d e l. r tlid v .
emeus jABMmi: CmM.
S i rO nuaidel TwjOCIRCUS
JARDINI I , Gould.
Jardine’s Harrier.
Circus Jardinii, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p. 141 ; and in Syn. Birds of Australia, Part III.
T h i s very beautiful Harrier, which is distinguished from every other species of the genus at present known
by the spotted character of its plumage, is plentifully dispersed over every portion o f New South Wales,
wherever localities favourable to the existence of the Harrier tribe occurs, such as extensive plains, wastes,
and luxuriant grassy-fiats between the hills in mountainous districts. The extent of its range over the
Australian continent has not yet been ascertained, and I have never observed it from any other portion of
the country than th at mentioned above, nor do specimens occur in collections formed in other parts.
In the third p art of my “ Synopsis of the Birds o f Australia,” I expressed an opinion that the Circus
assimilis of Messrs. Jardine and Selby’s “ Illustrations o f Ornithology” was merely the young o f the present
species: this opinion, however, -my visit to Australia proved to be erroneous; the Circus assimilis, as will be
seen on reference to the preceding plate, proving to be entirely distinct. The present noble bird has been
named in honour of S ir William Jardine, Bart., one of the authors o f the work above mentioned ; - and which,
as well as his other valuable publications connected with the science o f ornithology, are well known to
every zoologist.
To describe the economy o f the Jardine’s Harrier would be merely to repeat what has been said respecting
that of the former species. Like the other members of the genus, it flies lazily over the surface o f the plains,
intently seeking for lizards, snakes, small quadrupeds and b ird s ; and when not pressed by hunger, reposes
on some dried stick, elevated knoll, or stone, from which it can survey all around. Although I observed
this species in all parts of the Hunter in summer, when others of the Falcónidas were breeding, I did. not
succeed in procuring its eggs, or obtain any satisfactory information respecting its nidification; in all probability
its.nest is constructed on or near the ground, on the scrubby crowns o f the low, open, sterile hills
that border the plains.
The sexes present considerable difference in size, but are very similar in their markings; both are spotted,
but the female is by far the finest' bird in every respect.
Crown of the head, cheeks and ear-coverts dark chestnut, each feather having a mark o f brown down the
c en tre ; facial disc, back of the neck, upper part o f the back, and chest uniform dark g re y ; lower part of the
back and scapulars dark grey, most of the feathers being blotched and marked a t the tips with two faint spots
of white, one on each side of the stem ; shoulders, under surface of the wing, abdomen, thighs and under
tail-coverts rich chestnut, the whole of the feathers beautifully spotted with white, the spots regularly disposed
down each web, and being largest and most distinct on the abdomen; greater and lesser wing-coverts
brownish grey, irregularly barred and tipped with a lighter co lo u r; secondaries dark grey, crossed with
three narrow lines of dark brown, and tipped with a broad band of the same colour, the extreme tips being
p a le r; primaries black for two-thirds of their length, their bases brownish buff; upper tail-coverts brown,
barred and tipped with greyish white ; tail alternately barred with conspicuous bands o f dark brown and
grey, the brown band nearest the extremity being the broadest, the extreme tips greyish white ; irides bright
orange-yellow; cere olive-yellow; bill blue at the base, black a t the culmen and tips ; legs yellow.
T he young has the whole of the upper surface nearly uniform dark brown, the tail more numerously
barred, and the feathers of the chest and upper part o f the abdomen striated, instead o f spotted with wh ite:
in other respects it resembles the adults.
The front figure represents the female and the other the male, about two-thirds o f the natural size.