4410 THE ZooLocist—APRIL, 1875. - 
it as H. Nove-Zealandiz in an immature state. * * * Since 
the publication of the Essay I have been able to determine satis- 
factorily this disputed point. In December last, during a visit to 
the Taupo district, I was fortunate enough to discover a nest of this 
hawk, containing three young ones. The parent birds were beautiful 
specimens of H. Nove-Zealandiz. * * * One of them shortly 
afterwards died, but the others (which are still alive in my aviary) 
developed in due time into perfect examples of the so-called 
H. brunnea. It will be seen, therefore, that this form is the young 
of H. Nove-Zealandiz, and not the female, as suggested by Herr 
Finsch.” In striking contrast to this statement, we find his notice 
of the Falconidez in his ‘ History of the Birds of New Zealand ;’ 
at p. 9, the story of the inmates of the nest found in the Taupo 
district is given as a portion of the history of H. brunnea. Now, 
will this fresh view of these nestlings induce us to rely that 
Dr. Buller has “ been able to determine satisfactorily this disputed 
point”? In the Introduction to the ‘ Birds of New Zealand, p. xv., 
may be found this passage :—“ Thus Dr. Haast writes to me (under 
date of March 10, 1872), concerning the specific distinctness of the 
sparrow-hawk and the quail-hawk. I may tell you that on my last 
journey into the interior I got two of the former (7. e. the small 
species). ‘They were male and female, and I secured them at the 
nest, where they had young ones. The female was a little bigger 
and lighter than the male bird. Both birds were full-grown, and 
showed at a glance the impossibility of their ever developing into 
the large and perfectly distinct quail-hawk.” This reads like strong 
evidence in favour of the two-species theory; but there must be 
some mistake in this statement. These two birds were shot by 
Mr. W. P. Phillips, then manager of the writer’s cattle-station on 
the Upper Rangitata, whilst they were assailing the poultry close 
to the house. Mr. Phillips, who killed them, preserved their skins, 
and presented them to Dr. Haast, who did not know of a falcon’s 
nest, and made a guess at the sexes of these specimens. From the 
station journal it was ascertained they were killed on the 10th of 
February. These two falcons are in the type collection of the 
Canterbury Museum, and, in the opinion of the writer, are birds in 
their first season. 
In support of the maintenance of the two-species theory, the 
following information is submitted. In November, 1868, two nests 
were found on the Lake Coleridge Ranges. The young were 
, who 
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