NDR OD OCA ON: XXlil

and economy of the whole are as similar as they are in outward appearance ; and that the Falco melanogenys is as

destructive to the ducks of the interior of Australia as the Falco Anatum is in North America.

 

Ure Halconsnpmitena G7.cumaee ‘ : : ; : : : : : : Mole Rls oF

A powerful Falcon differmg somewhat in structure from the F. hypoveucus and F. melanogenys. Nothing is
known of its habits, and as yet I have only seen four examples, all of which were procured in the interior of South

Australia.

10. Falco frontatus, Gould : : : : ; : k : : : : ‘ ; Volk ik 1G;

Falco lunulatus, Lath. Ind. Orn. Suppl., p. xi. ?
Sparvius lunulatus, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat., tom. x. p. 324.
Falco longipennis, Swains. Anim. in Menag., p. 341. ?
subbuteo, Brehm, Isis, 1845, p. 347. ?
—— (Hypotriorchis) frontatus, Kaup, Isis, 1847, p. 65.
A little Falcon with the habits of the Hobby and Merlin combined; found in all parts of Australia to the

 

 

southward of the 25th degree of 8. lat.; among other birds it preys upon the Quails and the little Partridges be-
longing to the genus Synoicus.
Genus Teracipea, Gould.

Generic characters.

Bill and general form of Falco, but the wings less powerful, and the third quill-feather the longest ; tarsi more
elongated, slender, and covered anteriorly with hexagonal scales; toes more feeble, the hind-toe shorter, and the
claws less robust.

So far as our present knowledge extends, the members of this genus are only three in number, all of which are

confined to Australia and New Zealand.

11. leracidea Berigora : : : : : : i F : : : Wool, I, Jk We
Teracidea Berigora, Kaup, Class. der Saug. und Voe., p. 112.

Professor Kaup considers this species and the succeeding one, J. occidentalis, to be identical, but having had
numerous opportunities of observing them, I am satisfied that they are distinct; and in confirmation of this opinion
I may state that the /. Berigora, which is from the eastern coast, is always the largest, has the cere blue-grey, and
the plumage of the adult light brown, sparingly blotched with white on the breast; while the J. occidentalis, from
the western coast, is a more delicately formed bird, has the cere yellow and the breast white, with faint lines of

brown down the centre of each feather.

12. leracidea occidentalis, Gould : : : f : 2 ; ‘ ; : : : Wool, 3, 1B 1%,

Genus Tinnuncuuus, Vieill.

13. Tinnunculus Cenchroides . : : 3 2 : : : : : ‘ : : Wolk, Il, IP, 13.

Cerchneis immaculatus, Brehm, Isis.

A beautiful representative of the Kestrils of Europe and India, where, as well as in Africa and in most parts of
America, members of this group are to be found.

The range of the Timnunculus Cenchroides extends over the whole of the southern parts of Australia, and that it
extends far towards the northern portion of the country is proved by Mr. Gilbert having found it, as well as its
nest, during the expedition of Dr. Leichardt from Moreton Bay to Port Essington.

The following is an extract from his Journal :—‘ October 2. Found, for the first time, the eggs of Tinnunculus
Cenchroides, four in number, deposited in a hollow spout of a gum-tree overhanging a creek ; there was no nest, the
eggs being merely deposited on a bed of decayed wood.” ‘They are freckled all over with blotches and minute dots
of rich reddish chestnut on a paler ground, and are one inch and five-eighths in length by one inch and a quarter

in breadth.