NEW ZKALAM) IM lU)^ 



muscles^ enable it to continue tlicsc wanderings for a wliole day 

 without any apparent fatigue. "Wlien sailing, as it often does, at a 

 high elevation, the wings are inclined upwards so as to form a broad 

 obtuse angle (with the tail half-spread), and there is no perceptible 

 motion in them, except Avhen the bird alters its course. It is wortliy 

 of remark that the birds of the first year are apparently incapable of 

 the peculiar sailing flight which I have descriljcd, tlieir locomotion 

 being effected entirely by slowly- repeated flappings of the wings. 

 This circumstance, taken in conjunction with the dark colour of the 

 young bird (appearing perfectly black at a little distance), has led to 

 the common belief that there are tAvo distinct species. 



" When gorged with food, the Harrier takes up its station on a 

 rising knoll, a projecting stump, or the naked limb of a detached 

 tree standing in the open, Avhen it assumes an erect posture, with the 

 head drawn closely in and the wings folded, and remains perfectly 

 motioidess for a considerable time. When thus reposing, it is pos- 

 sible to get Avithin gun-range of a ' Kahn-korako,^ or very old bird ; 

 but at other times it is extremely difficult to obtain a shot. Hawks 

 are known to be long-lived ; and they aj)pear to gain more experience 

 of the world as they grow older. The dark-plumaged Harrier falls 

 an easy prey to the gunner ; it may be winged as it sails above him 

 at an easy elevation, or it may be approached quickly and surprised 

 when it descends to the ground to ca])turc and devour a mouse or 

 lizard. But the wary old ' White Hawk ' carries with him the 

 experience of many dangers, and is not so easily taken. I have 

 folloAved one for the greater part of a day before I have succeeded in 

 shooting it. These old birds, notwithstanding the extreme abundance 

 of the species, are comparatively rare, and they are called Kahu- 

 korako l)y the Natives, in allusion to their hoary plumage. Birds in 

 ordinary adult plumage are also somewhat shy ; but on horseback I 

 have often ap])roaehed near enough to detect the colour of the cere 

 and legs. 



" Besides devouring carrion of all kinds, the Harrier subsists on 

 rats, mice, lizards, feeble or Avounded birds, and even grubs and 

 spiders." — Bulli:k. 



STEIGID.E. Owls. 



Base of the bill concealed by bristles ; eyes surrounded by a disc of long fcatbcr? ; 

 plumage, soft ; wings, rounded ; legs, feathered to the Iocs. 



Athkne. Boie. 



; eyes ; t 



The warmer parts of both hemispheres. 



Facial disc imperfect above the eyes ; third and fourtli quills the longest ; tarsi longer 

 than the middle toe and claw. 



