158 bulletin: museum of comparative zoology. 



Falco peregrinus cassini Sharpe. 

 " Sparrow Hawk ". 



This falcon is rare and killed whenever opportunity affords owing 

 to its daring and successful raids upon young poultry. It is very swift 

 of flight and not easily shot. 



Of two specimens in my collection, the stomach of one contained 

 many feathers of Muscisaxicola macloviana. 



Cinclodes antarcticus (Garnot). 

 " Tussac Bird ". 



During a few hours stop at Speadwell Island these birds were found 

 abundant near the shore. They were very tame, and when I sat on 

 the bank they would walk within three or four feet looking up at me 

 curiously with their black beady eyes. 



They are rare birds on the main islands, preferring the outlying 

 tussock islands. 



Muscisaxicola macloviana (Garnot). 

 " Blue Bird ". 



This long-legged little tyrant-bird is common, the majority being 

 found about the "stone rivers," where they prefer to nest. It is a 

 difflcult task collecting specimens on these "rivers" for many of the 

 boulders are merely balancing, and to travel without getting a bad 

 fall and still keep an eye on the bird ahead as it flits about requires 

 a great fund of patience. 



Only one nest was found and this contained three newly hatched 

 young on October 27. It was situated deep down among the rocks 

 from which I had to remove many pounds of loose stones. The nest 

 was quite large and well constructed of grass and moss, the lining 

 being of feathers. The young were being fed on spiders. 



Spiders are the chief food of these birds, and at Port Stephens a few 

 were always found feeding upon wingless flies on the beach. 



