| OCR Text |
Show 382 MR. E. P. RAMSAY ON BIRDS FROM QUEENSLAND. [Jlllie 11, from cere along culmen to tip 1, height at base 0*9, width 1*lower edge of upper mandible); lower mandible from angle of mouth 1-25, width at base 0*5 ; height of upper mandible from tooth to cere 0*6, its width at tooth 0*4 ; length of the head and bill 2*8, width 16, tarsi 3*2; first toe 1*2, its claw 1*3; middle toe 2 in., its claw 1 lin.; third toe 1*3, its claw 0*8; hind toe 1 inch, its claw 1*4; ditto from base to tip in a straight line 1*1, along the curve 1*4, its circumference at base 0*6, height 0*25, width 0*2 ; all the claws are much arched, thick and strong; tarsi thick and very powerful. Although this bird is in many respects like what one would expect to find the young of Astur novee-hollandice (alias A. rayii), I believe it to be of a distinct species. It is true, and, I suppose, well known, that tbe individuals of this latter species differ greatly in size, and, as many will not admit, in the colouring of the females. As regards this last fact I have instances of grey-backed females pairing with wholly white males; and if the New-South-Wales birds are really distinct from the Tasmanian, it will be in the fact that the females of the New-South-Wales birds are frequently grey-backed, while the Tasmanian birds are never so. A very intelligent collector, from whom I have had some valuable specimens of eggs, Braisher by name, told me, a few days ago, that a pair of this species had taken up their abode near his farm, in the Illawarra district, and that he felt sure of getting a reward I had offered for their eggs. Upon my asking how he knew that they were a pair, he replied, that one of them had a " blue " (grey) back. Nothing that I could say would persuade him to the contrary ; and he affirmed that he had shot scores of them. During the breeding-season, Rainbird, a collector at Port Denison, sent me down a pair, of which that marked the female has the back grey. On questioning Rainbird, he informed me these had mated, and, he felt sure, had a nest hard by. Nevertheless I shall wait until I have obtained the young from the nest before I consider the points fully settled, both with respect to the Astur rayii and A. novee-hollandice being one species, and whether the bird I have described above be their young or that of a new species. At present I consider it to be new on account of its strong markings, greater size, and much stronger build, besides having the upper surface brown instead of a shade of grey. It is, moreover, a heavier-built bird, inclining to Astur rather than to Leucospiza. 5. ELANUS AXILLARIS. The young of this species have the upper surface dull brown, wings and tail blue grey, shoulders black, and the feathers of the breast centred with a black line, which ends in a yellowish spot at the tip. 6. PODARGUS, n. sp. From Cleveland Bay. |
