181 NATURAL HISTORY NOTES IN NEW ZEALAND. 
work, and taking them in order, I find eleven birds classed with the 
hawks and parrots. Of the three hawks I have seen but two. 
The Harrier (Circus count) has played its part in the destruct- 
ion of the rabbit, having been for a number of years strictly pre- 
served. Its size is about that of the barn owl, but its spread of wing 
is enormous for the size of the body. A ceaseless hunter, the harrier 
is destructive not only to the young rabbits, but also to young 
chickens and eggs about the settlers’ farms. He confines his depred- 
ations to the open country and never hunts in the bush. 
The Bush Hawk (H1EracipEA FEROX) on the contrary cares not 
whether he searches in the thicket or in the clearing for his quarry. 
It seemed to me, on the two occasions when I saw a deadly chase, that 
this small bird greatly resembled the English sparrowhawk, both in 
its flight and in its blind persistence in the presence of spectators. 
Each time the intended victim was an imported bird, but I never 
had the opportunity of closely inspecting the hawk. The remark- 
able perseverance with which one of these birds followed a carrier 
pigeon, in spite of half a dozen lookers on, was wonderful even for the 
species. A score times the frightened pigeon doubled and finally 
took refuge within a hand’s grasp of the interested and sympathetic 
spectators. 
Of the two owls listed I have only seen one, familiarly called by 
the Colonists ‘“‘Morepork” on account of the resemblance of its notes 
tothat word. It is exceedingly common, and is probably not a quarter 
the size of the barn ow]. Owing to its silent flight, the sudden and 
almost human cry of “more-pork” in the stillness of the night is very 
startling to the stranger. Buller says the “morepork” lives upon 
rats, mice, and small birds, but having dissected them J could never 
find anything but large insects such as the cicada and the cricket. 
Its feet are scarcely ada) ted for holding such jarge prey as rats. 
Small lizards I have no doubt he relishes, and they are plentiful. 
