Porrs.—JNew Zealand Birds. 141 
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 а 
guess at the sexes of these specimens. From the station journal it was 
ascertained they were killed on February 10th. 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 captured 
when quite small by one of Mr. Oakden's shepherds, and both families 
presented to the Canterbury Acclimatization Society. Mr. Oakden stated to 
the writer that the birds from the one nest were readily distinguishable from 
those of the other nest, even from the first; in size there was a marked 
difference, perhaps of about one-third, this contrast of size being maintained 
up to the time when some of the birds were shipped for export to England. 
The writer has seen numbers of both species, and has a series of many specimens 
that have been collected in the course of some twenty years. In life, besides. 
the marked difference in size and in robustness of frame, the Sparrow-hawk 
(Falco ferox) looks flatter about the head and carries the wings more promi- 
nently forward, this carriage giving the bird a less rounded appearance than is 
observable in the larger species. The smaller Falcon is more savage and 
resolute, swifter in flight than its congener, and will soon rid a pigeon-house 
of its inmates. 
Last December some very robust specimens of Falco nove-zealandiw were 
observed by the writer about the sounds of the south-west coast of this island. 
Those birds were observed on some occasions to pursue sea-gulls. Two females, 
shot in Preservation Inlet, measured as under :— 
2 nie , 5 , , ?? ” 
Their habitat, rocks and cliffs онер коте the sea. From the crop of 
one specimen was taken the remains of a very large rat, one hind leg of which 
had been swallowed whole. These very robust specimens of our larger Falcon 
could not well be identified with the same species as the light, dashing little 
Sparrow-hawk (Z. ferox). 
If the cabinet ornithologist will not permit the fauna to possess two 
species, Falco ferox =F. brunnea must be the young state of Falco nove- 
zealandie ; in this case we must try to believe that the greatest boldness and 
audacity in attacking, the greatest activity and swiftness of wing in pursuing, 
is exhibited by the Quail-hawk before it has reached its adult state; neither 
