42 S/ray Feathers. [ ist^"july 



height suddenly two Pigeons left the other five and struck out 

 across the sky. Quick as lightning the Falcon followed. The 

 two Pigeons separated, and their enenay's chance had arrived. 

 Singling out the bird on the right, the Falcon quickly lessened 

 the gap between itself and its victim. The poor Pigeon, 

 evidently noting this, headed for some tall pines in a thick 

 plantation, and when over them, though many hundreds of feet 

 above in the clear sky, closed its wings and dropped. Though 

 the Pigeon was a good distance in advance, by the time it came 

 over the pine tops (about 80 feet high) the Falcon with a down- 

 ward swoop reached to within a yard of it. This ended the 

 scene for us, as both birds were lost to view. Having no doubt 

 the Falcon had caught its intended prey, we hastened to the 

 spot, expecting to see it on the ground feasting. We searched 

 about everywhere, but no trace of either bird could we find. 

 Two hours later, just as the sun was setting, my boy said his 

 Pigeon had returned, and on catching it we found it severely 

 maimed on the right breast, just under the wing. The wound 

 had the appearance of having been caused by contact with some 

 object, and I am of opinion that a pine branch or other obstacle 

 had been struck with terrific force by the poor bird in her last 

 supreme effort to evade her murderous pursuer. It was indeed 

 a grand sight, and that downward swoop of the P'alcon's was 

 something never to be forgotten. The noise must have been 

 considerable, tiiough we were too far away to hear. The swoop 

 must have been from 800 or 1,000 feet elevation. I have had 

 many experiences of this Falcon chasing its pre}^ of different 

 kinds, but no previous experience from start to finish could 

 compare with this. I once saw a bird chasing a flock of White 

 Cockatoos, and so frightened were the flock that I fired four 

 shots and killed half a score of them before they realised that I 

 was an enemy also. In this case the Falcon settled on a 

 neighbouring tree, and made off on the first two barrels being 

 discharged. On a second occasion I saw a Falcon attacking a 

 flock of Black Cockatoos. This time I tried to shoot the bird of 

 prey, but it would not allow me to approach near enough. I 

 have also seen these Falcons catch and kill a White-fronted 

 Heron, but this was a very easy task, the Heron being so slow. 

 I do not think this Falcon ever takes a bird from a sitting 

 position, as I have observed in the case of the Cockatoos and 

 Herons that as soon as its intended prey alights it does so also, 

 or else soars around until the frightened birds again take wing. 

 The final act is usually accomplished with a swoop. Falcons, 

 both White-fronted and IMack-cheeked, are extremely rare here, 

 and hence opportunities for observing their mode of securing 

 their prey are divided by long years in most instances. I have 

 also frequently witnessed the Brown Hawk and Goshawk, also 

 the fierce little Sparrow-Hawk, catching birds, but though very 



