The female has all the upper surface, wings and tail cinnamon-red; each feather of the former with a dark patch of brown in the centre, assuming the shape of arrow-heads on the wing-coverts; the scapularies irregularly barred with the same, and the tail with an irregular band near the extremity; throat, vent and under tail-coverts white; remainder of the under surface reddish buff, with a stripe of brown down the centre of each feather.
The figures represent the two sexes of the natural size.
ASTUR NOVÆ-HOLLANDIÆ.
J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith. C. Hullmandel Imp.
ASTUR NOVÆ-HOLLANDIÆ.
New Holland Goshawk.
Astur Raii, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 180.
Falco clarus, Lath. Ind. Orn. Supp., p. 13?—Shaw, Gen. Zool., vol. vii. p. 184?
Fair Falcon, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 54?—Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. i. p. 226?
The only part of Australia in which I have met with this species is New South Wales, where it would appear to evince a preference for the dense and luxuriant brushes near the coast; but so little has at present been ascertained respecting its economy, range and habits, that its history is nearly a blank—even whether it is migratory or not is unknown. That it breeds in the brushes of the district above mentioned is certain, for I recollect seeing a brood of young ones in the possession of Alexander Walker Scott, Esq., of Newcastle on the Hunter, a gentleman much attached to the study of the natural productions of Australia. These young birds differed but little in colour from the fully adult specimens in my collection, except that the transverse markings of the breast were much darker and of a more arrow-shaped form; which markings become fainter and more linear as the bird advances in age.
The sexes present the usual difference in size, but in colour and markings they closely assimilate.