FALCO. 



261 



from pure mischief, reUuning to the charge several times, but it did not succeed in killing the 

 Cockatoo. They prey a good deal on the Blue Mountam Lorikeet I Tru-hoglossus novie-lwllaudhr), 

 which seems to lose all power when confronted by one of these birds; this Lorikeet does not 

 seem to employ its powers of flight to avoid the Falcon, as it might do. The Rosella [Plalvccvais 

 (xunim) makes a much better fight for its life, also the Magpie L^vkfCmllma picaU,), for althou^rh 

 not quick flying birds they are expert dodgers. I saw a Black-cheeked Falcon chase a single 

 Black Duck within ten yards of me. I fired at the Duck, and shot just behind it, the Falcmi 

 bemg about six feet behind ; another second and he would have had him. The Black-cheeked 

 Falcon constructs no nest whatever, but makes a light depression in the sand and crumblin- 

 debris on the shelves of rocks. In the year rSqr, I robbed one pair of birds three times, viz^ 

 three eggs on the i6th August, three eggs on the 13th September, and two eggs on the 14th 

 October. My aboriginal collector told me they reared young ones in the same place often ; when 

 robbed they usually remove from one shelf of rocks to another. Their home here is in the 

 mountainous districts, and the nesting place is guarded by precipitous rocky walls, utterly 

 forbiddmg, in almost every case, access by man from below, and not always to be reached sately 

 from above, even with rope ladders. Llpon one occasion the Falcons knocked the hat from 

 the head of an aboriginal, making repeated swoops and charges when he was taking their eggs, 

 screeching out loudly the while. One of us generally sat on top and kept waving sticks Ind 

 handlcerchiefs to keep them away. It is with regret I add that these noble birds have been 

 almost entirely exterminated in these districts. They were such daring and constant visitors to 

 the poultry yards, that they were easily shot ; however, I visit their old nesting places every year 

 in the hopes of others coming and occupying their solitary homes. This bird is, I think, very 

 much like the English Peregrine Falcon ; it has many of its characteristics. The Peregrine 

 and the Goshawk many English noblemen are trying hard to re-introduce again, and are most 

 rigidly protected on many estates." 



The figure on the opposite page, also on Plate A. 15, are reproduced from photographs 

 taken by Mr. Savidge. 



Mr. Robert Grant, Taxidermist of the Australian Museum, has -iven me the following 

 notes:-" I found FaUo mdanosenys nesting in a deep gorge about three miles from Lithgow, on 

 the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, in October, 1883. The nesting site was on a shelving 

 or projecting rock right under a large overhanging rock, between twenty and thiityfeet from 

 the top, and about eighty to a hundred feet from the bottom of the cliff". It was impossible to 

 reach the nesting-place either from above or below, so my brother and I left one day with the 

 intention of securing both birds. My brother went on one side of the gorge opposite to the 

 nesting-site, while I stood immediately beneath it, so that we would have a better chance of 

 shooting the birds which ever way they came ; the day was cloudy with a strong wind blowing 

 down the gorge. We had not been long there when in the distance we heard the cawing cry 

 of a Crow, as it came flying up against the wind, and a little higher than the Falcon's nesUng- 

 place. As it came in line with the latter, one of the Falcons dashed out like a flash of lightning 

 and struck the Crow, which fell to the ground like a stone, and then the Falcon returned to its 

 nesting-place ; so it certainly did not kill it for food. The whole action of the bird in protecting 

 its nest from a cunning foe, so impressed my brother and I, that we left the birds in peace to 

 rear their young." 



The late Mr. K. H. Bennett wrote as follows while resident in the Mossgiel District, New 

 South Wales :—" F,7/rt ;w/<;wrv,;rs is very rarely met with in this locality, preferring heavily, 

 timbered and rugged mountainous country. Like all true Falcons it captures its prey on the 

 wing, and is very destructive amongst Quail. It is a bold and fearless bird, and will suffer 

 itself to be approached closely, nodding its head in a defiant manner at the intruder before taking 

 to flight. I have never known it to breed here, but found the nesting-place on the yth September 



66 



