I have nothing more to communicate respecting this new species of
_Elanus_, than that I found a single specimen of it among a collection
of skins that had been sent from South Australia. In size it
considerably exceeds the Black-shouldered Kite, from which it also
differs in the colouring of the upper surface, which is much darker and
washed with reddish brown, the same part in the other species being
delicate grey; the principal character, however, by which it may be
distinguished, not only from its Australian relative, but from every
other member of the genus yet discovered, is the great extent of the
black mark on the under surface of the wing, which following the line of
the bones from the body to the pinion, assumes when the wing is spread
the form of the letter V, or if both wings are seen at the same time
that of a W, divided in the centre by the body; which circumstance has
suggested the specific name I have applied to it.
It will be admitted by every one that this new species is an interesting
addition to the Australian _Falconidæ_, a group, of which the Fauna of
that country is more meagre in species than any similar extent of
country known.
Forehead and line over the eye white; head and all the upper surface
dark grey, washed with reddish brown; wing-coverts deep glossy black;
primaries greyish brown, becoming nearly white on their webs, all but
the first two or three margined with white at the tip; secondaries
brownish grey on the outer web, white on the inner and at the extremity;
tertiaries brownish grey; two centre tail-feathers grey; the remaining
tail-feathers pale brown on their outer webs, and white on the inner;
lores black; all the under surface and edge of the shoulder white; on
the under surface of the wing, following the line of the bones, a broad
mark of black, assuming the form of the letter V; bill black; cere and
legs yellow; claws black; irides orange.
The figure is of the natural size.
[Illustration:
LEPIDOGENYS SUBCRISTATUS: _Gould_
_J. Gould and H. C. Richter del et lith._ _C. Hullmandel Imp._
]
LEPIDOGENYS SUBCRISTATUS, _Gould_.
Crested Hawk.
_Lepidogenys subcristatus_, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., Part V. p.
140; and in Syn. Birds of Australia, Part III.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account