WOOD AND WASTE m 



and is not altogether gone when flight is 

 first attempted. Even when there are three 

 eggs my experience has been that they 

 usually hatch out, but in that case out of 

 the three nestlings one is distinctly smallest. 



Often, however, there are but two chicks, 

 one considerably the larger, and probably 

 the female. 



During the season of 1908-1909 I had a 

 Falcon's nest under observation at the base 

 of a conglomerate cliff on the pumaceous 

 lands. Tall manuka poles supported against 

 the pebbly wall made a capital lean-to, 

 round them scrim was wrapped, and finally 

 brushwood piled on top. 



Thus, within two or three yards of the 

 nest the most intimate details of Falcon 

 family life was open to me. 



Everything that is good can be said of 

 their housekeeping — the little ones are 

 admirably brought up. There is no quarrel- 

 ing, except, sometimes indeed at meal times, 

 no snatching at food is tolerated, even 

 though the young may be whining with 

 excitement and hunger. With their eyes 

 fixed on the prey beneath the parent's 



