IERACIDEA BERIGORA.
Brown Hawk.

Falco Berigora, Vig. and Horsf. in Linn. Trans., vol. xv. p. 184.
Teracidea Berigora, Gould, Syn. Birds of Australia, Part ITI.
Berigora, Aborigines of New South Wales.

Orange-speckled Hawk of the Colonists.

Brown Hawk, Colonists of Van Diemen’s Land.

 

Tis species is universally distributed over Van Diemen’s Land and New South Wales. It is represented
in western and north-western Australia by a nearly allied species, to which I have given the name of
occidentalis. In its disposition it is neither so bold nor so daring as the typical Falcons, and while it par-
takes much of the habits and actions of the true Kestrils, particularly in the mode in which it hovers in the
air, it also often soars and skulks about after the manner of the Harriers. Although it sometimes captures
and preys upon birds and small quadrupeds, its principal food consists of carrion, reptiles and insects; the
crops of several that I dissected were literally crammed with the latter kind of food. It is generally to be
met with in pairs, but at those seasons when hordes of caterpillars infest the newly-sprung herbage it
congregates in flocks of many hundreds; a fact I myself witnessed during the spring of 1840, when the
downs near Yarrundi, on the Upper Hunter, were infested with this noxious insect, which spread destruc-
tion throughout the entire district. By the settlers this bird is considered one of the pests of the country,
but it was clear to me that whatever injury it may inflict by now and then pilfermg the newly-hatched
chickens from the poultry-yard is amply compensated for by the havoc it commits among the countless myriads
of the destructive caterpillar. After the morning meal it perches on the dead branches of the neighbouring
Eucalypti wuntil hunger again impels it to exert itself for a further supply. To give an idea of the numbers
of this bird to be met with at one time, I may state that I have frequently seen from ten to forty on a single
tree, so sluggish and indisposed to fly that any number of specimens might have been secured.

So much difference occurs in the plumage of this species, that unless the changes it undergoes are known
to him, the ornithologist would be apt to consider that there were more than one species ; a close attention
to the subject has, however, convinced me that the contrary is the case, and that in the countries which
I have stated to constitute the true habitat of this bird there is but one species. During the first autumn
the dark markings are of a much deeper hue, and the lighter parts more tinged with yellow than in the
adult state, when the upper surface becomes of a uniform brown, and the white of the under surface tinged
with yellow.

The sexes are nearly alike in colour, but the female is the largest in size. I discovered the Jeracedea
Berigora breeding in the months of October and November both in Van Diemen’s Land and New South
Wales, the nests in both countries being placed on the highest branches of the lofty Kucalypt.

The nest is similar in size to that of a Crow, it is composed outwardly of sticks, and lined with strips of
stringy bark, leaves, &c.; the eggs, which are two, and sometimes three in number, vary so much in colour,
that they are seldom found alike, even in the same nest 5 they are also longer or of a more oval shape than
those of the generality of Falcons; the prevailing colour is,—the ground buffy white, covered nearly all
over with reddish brown: in some specimens an entire wash of this colour extends over nearly half the
egg, while in others it is blotched or freckled in small patches over the surface generally : their medium
length is two inches and two lines, and breadth one inch and six lines.

Crown of the head ferruginous brown, with a fine black line down the centre of each feather; a streak
of black from the base of the lower mandible down each side of the cheek ; ear-coverts brown ; throat,

chest, centre of the abdomen, and under tail-coverts pale buff, with a fine line of brown down each side of
’

- flanks ferruginous, each feather crossed with spots of buffy white ; thighs dark
ks but with redder spots; centre of the back reddish brown ; scapularies and
tail brown, crossed with

the shaft of every feather
brown, crossed like the flan :
wing-coverts brown, crossed with conspicuous bars and spots ol ferruginous ; orc
ferruginous bars, and tipped with light brown ; primaries blackish roam margined on their imner webs
with large oval-shaped spots of buff; bill light lead colour, passing into black at the tip; cere and orbits
ead colour; irides very dark brown; feet very light lead-colour.

pale bluish |

The figures represent the two sexes of the natural size.