iS8 BIRDS OF THE DISTRICT OF GEELONG 
by the side of the Melbourne line, about seven miles 
north of Geelong. This bird was evidently very 
tired ; it allowed us to come almost directly under 
it, so that we could observe the absence of the black 
V which is characteristic of its near relative the 
Letter-winged Kite. Our conclusion was that it 
had been blown far to southward of its usual range 
by the gale, and was resting preparatory to an attempt 
to fly back. 
I am convinced that any birds we see are but 
chance visitors, and that the bird does not breed 
anywhere in the district. I must add, however, that 
a few years ago Mr. Riordan noted, at Warrnambool, 
a pair of these Kites, accompanied by young not long 
out of the nest. 
The general plumage of both sexes is greyish 
white, with black shoulders and black bar beneath 
the wings. 
LITTLE FALCON 
Falco longipennis longipennis 
We have no other Hawk so small as the Little Falcon, 
nor, I think, any that is quite so fast in the air. In 
appearance it closely resembles the Black-cheeked 
Falcon, than which, however, it is very much smaller. 
Like the Collared Sparrow-hawk, it has a bad reputa- 
tion among owners of poultry, and in the country 
districts shares with two or three other species the 
name of Chicken-hawk." 
