Genus A s t u r , Lacep.
14. Astur N o væ -H o lla n d iæ ...................................................... . . . . . . .- -Vol. I. PL 14.
15. Astur Novæ-Hollandiæ, albino . . . . . . . . . . . . . • Vol. I. Pl. 15.
Astur Novæ-Hollandiæ, Cuv. Règ. An., 1817, p. 320.
Sparvius niveus, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. d’Hist. Nat., tom. x. p. 338.
Deedalion candidmn, Less. Traité d’Om., p.. 66.
Falco leucaëtos, Forst. Descr. Anim. and Drawings, No. 35.
Astur (Leucospizd) Novæ-Hollandiæ, Kaup, Class, der S'àug. und Vog., p. 119.
I think Professor Kaup is right in proposing a new generic title for this species, differing as it does both in
structure and habits from the true Asturs ; he also, like myself, considers the white birds to be merely albino
varieties of the other ; but my friends, the Rev. T. J. Ewing and Ronald C. Gunn, Esq. of Van Diemen’s Land, are
both most decidedly opposed to this view of the subject, and found their dissent upon the circumstance of there
being none other than white individuals in Van Diemen’s Land.
So far as it is at present known, the southern and eastern portions of Australia and the island of Van Diemen’s
Land constitute the habitat of the species.
16. Astur radiatus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. I. PI. 16.
Astur testaceus (Ernest.'), Kaup, Isis, 1847, p. 367.
A curious form not quite agreeing with Astur ; it is very rare, and nothing whatever is known of its habits.
17. Astur approximans, Vtg. % Horsf. . . . . . . . . . ... Vol. L Pl. 17.
Astur radiatus, Cuv. Règ. An., 1829, p. 332,
Nisus (Urospiza) radiatus, Kaup, Mus. Senckenb., 1845, p. 259.
( ------ ) approximans, Kaup, Isis, 1847, p. 182.
Accipiter approximans, List of Birds in Brit. Mus. Coll., Part I. ..2nd edit. p. 74.
The Astur approximans has been with propriety removed to the genus Accipiter by Mr. G. R. Gray, and to this
genus my A. cruentus is also referable ; for although of a larger size than the other members of that form, their
structure, except in the shorter middle toe, is very similar.
18. Astur cruentus, Gould . ............................................................................. . . . Vol. I. PI. 18.
Astur cruentus, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part X. p. 113.
This species and the preceding are representatives of each other in the eastern and western portions of the
continent.
I have lately seen specimens from Port Essington.
Genus A c c i p it e r , Briss.
19. Accipiter t o r q u a t u s ........................................................................................................................ v _ Vol. I. PI. 19.
Sparvius cirrhocephalus, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. d’Hist. Nat., tom. x. p. 328.
----- tricolor, Vieill. ibid. p. 329.
Falco meldnops, Lath; Ind. Om. Supp., p. 12 ?
Sparvius melanops, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. d’Hist. Nat., tom. x. p. 239 ?
Astur (.Micronisus) torquatus, Kaup, Mus. Senckenb. 1845, p. 259.
Nisus ( Urospiza) torquatus, Kaup, Isis, 1847, p. 181.
Accipiter cirrhocephalus, List of Birds in Brit. Mus. Coll., Part I. 2nd edit. p. 73.
Precisely similar in all its actions and in its economy to the Sparrow Hawk, Accipiter nisus of Europe.
Genus B u teo , Cud.
Species of the genus Buteo are dispersed over the great continents of Europe, Asia, Africa and America, but only
one has yet been discovered in Australia.
20. Buteo melanostemon, Gould . . . . .. . . . . . . Vol. I. PL 20.
This bird departs somewhat in form from the typical species of the genus Buteo; but so little is known
respecting it that we are ignorant how far this departure may influence its habits and economy. One most singular
story has been transmitted to me and is here given as I received it ; without vouching for its truth, I may remark
that the testimony of the natives may generally be relied upon.
“ The natives, Mr. Drummond, and his son Mr. Johnson Drummond, tell me,” says Mr. Gilbert, “ that this bird
is so bold, that upon discovering an Emu sitting on her eggs it will attack her with great ferocity until it succeeds
in driving her from them; when it takes up a stone with its feet, and while hovering over the eggs lets the stone
fall upon and crush them, and then descends and devours their contents, I have had numerous opportunities of
observing the bird myself, and can bear testimony to its great powers of scent or vision; for upon several occasions,
when the natives had placed a small kangaroo or kangaroo-rat in the fork of a tree or on the top of a Xanthorrhcea
with the intention- of taking it again on our return, we have found that the bird during our short absence had
discovered and devoured every p art of it except the skin, which was left so perfect, that at first I could not believe
that it had not been done by the hand of man.”
Genus Milvus, Cud.
Asia is the great stronghold of the Kites or restricted genus Milvus; a few species occur in Europe, Africa,
and the Indian Islands, and two are natives of Australia.
21. Milvus affinis, Gould . . ' . . . . . . . • . . . y 0i j pj 21.
Milvus (Hydroictinia) affinis, Kaup, Isis, 1847, p. 118.
This representative of the Milvus ater of Europe is found all over Australia, even at Port Essington ■ Captain
Sturt observed it flying over the far interior of South Australia in great numbers.
22. Milvus isurus, Gould . . . . . . . Vol. I. Pl. 22.
This species, which is sparingly dispersed over the whole of the southern p a rt of Australia, is an equally
beautiful representative of the common Kite, Milvus regalis of Europe.
Genus E la n u s, Sav.
Species of this well-defined genus inhabit nearly every part of the world: two are natives of Australia.
23. Elanus axillaris . . . . . . . . Vol. I. Pl. 23.
Elanus melanopterus, Vig. & Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 185.
The Elanus axillaris is a representative of the Elanus melanopterus of Europe.
24. Elanus scriptus, Gould . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. I. Pl. 24-
A fine new species rendered conspicuously different from all the other members of the genus by the black-
lettered form of the markings under the wings.
Captain Sturt found this bird abundant a t the Dépôt towards the interior of Australia.