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sickly lamb cannot be denied, but in these matters it is well to strike a balance and to 

 ascertain whether the services of this raptor to the farming interest in other directions are 

 not cheaply purchased at such a little sacrifice as the occasional loss of a weakly lamb. 

 Those who rashly interfere with the balance of Nature — and the killing off of Hawks is such 

 an interference — are bound to have cause to regret it in the long run. It is just as 

 unreasonable as a general crusade against that useful bird, the Morepork, because it has been 

 convicted occasionally of killing a pet canary in its cage. 



In its progress towards maturity the Harrier passes through several phases of plumage 

 and is sometimes very beautifully marked. At Papaitonga I shot an adult male which 

 was molesting my Teneriffe Quail. It was in excellent plumage, with a very distinct white 

 frill on the lower part of the throat, and having the under-parts of the body tawny-white, 

 stained with fulvous, and marked with broad longitudinal streaks of dark-brown, resembling 

 somewhat a Buzzard on the under-surface ; lining of the wings white, with narrow longitudinal 

 streaks of brown; the axillary plumes pure white, with broad transverse bars of rich umber- 

 brown ; and the superior under wing-coverts crossed by numerous arrow-head patches of the 

 same ; the inner webs of the quills pale cream-colour ; and the upper wing-coverts marked 

 with a spot of rufous, more or less distinct, near the tip. Irides pale-yellow, and of sparkling 

 brilliancy ; legs rich lemon-yellow, brightest on the toes ; claws black. 



These Hawks are in the habit of hunting along the shores of the lake, and are 

 a perpetual terror to the young ducks. They are destructive also to the eggs of birds 

 nesting in the sedge, on one occasion no less than fifteen eggs being taken from a Goose's 

 nest. They are bold enough, too, in their manner of attack. One day I saw three or four 

 large Sea-shags (PJialacrocorax novce-hollandice) perched on the naked branches of a lofty 

 matai near the edge of the lake, looking very fine as they balanced their bodies against 

 the blue sky beyond. Presently a Harrier appeared in sight, and, without a moment's 

 hesitation, swooped down on the group of Shags, and they, much to my surprise, instead 

 of showing fight, made precipitately for the water. On another occasion one of these Hawks 

 made a determined attack on a flock of Black Wigeon (Fuligula novce-zealanclice) well out 

 on the lake. The ducks splashed and dived, and evinced every sign of terror, and the 

 assailant kept up the pursuit for fully half an hour, but without effect. 



It is well known that the Harrier preys on eels, and surprise is sometimes expressed at 

 this; but those who know anything of the habits of the eel are aware that they constantly 

 come out of the rivers and ponds, generally at night, when they pass from one feeding ground 

 to another, but often likewise in the early morning when there has been a heavy dew, and 

 the ground and herbage are damp. It is on these occasions that the ever-vigilant Harrier 

 adds this dainty to his ordinary bill of fare. I was informed by the late Mr. Eobson that, 

 when staying at a run-holder's house in the Hawke's Bay district, he frequently saw a cat 

 belonging to the household bringing in large eels; and, his curiosity being aroused, he, on 

 several occasions, followed the cat and found it watching for its prey beside a deep pond 

 which was known to be full of eels. The cat had discovered the roving propensities of these 

 animals and, for want of more exciting occupation, had developed the character of an eel- 

 catcher. 



A beautiful specimen of the extremely aged, white-plum aged Hawk (not an albino) from 

 Papaitonga is now in my collection. My son sent me the following interesting account of 

 the manner in which the bird was secured: — 



November 7th, 1895.— A sheep was killed yesterday, and deposited near the entrance to ' Te- 

 kaari-a-Maui.' A little after daybreak this morning a native, who was out on the lake ' eeling,' saw 



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