Potts. — New Zecdand Birds. 141 



TKese 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 

 elose 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 Februaiy 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. Oakdeu 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 difierence 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 novce-zealandice 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 .• — 



m_t„i Spread of wrings 



i»v,;Jl; Wing. Tau. Tarsus. from 



'®'^^"- _ _ _ tip to tip. 



No. 1 ... 18 inches 11 inches 7 '8 inches 2-9 inches 32 inches 

 No. 2 ... 18 „ 11-5 „ 8-5 „ 3-2 „ 35-4 „ 



Their habitat, rocks and cliffs towering above 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 [F. ferox). 



If the cabinet ornithologist will not permit the faxma to possess two 

 species, Falco ferox =^F. hrunnea must be the young state of Falco novce- 

 zealandice ; 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 



