BIRDS. 
15 
of a house with other offal. I was also assured that in Chiloe, these birds (pro- 
bably in this district the M. pezoporus) materially injure the potato crops, by 
stocking up the roots when first planted. In the same island, I saw them follow- 
ing by scores the plough, and feeding on worms and larvae of insects. I do not 
believe that they kill, under any circumstances, even small birds or animals. They 
are more active than the Carranchas, but their flight is heavy ; I never saw one 
soar ; they are very tame ; are not gregarious ; commonly perch on stone 
walls, and not upon trees. They frequently utter a gentle, shrill scream. 
3. Milvago leucurijs. 
Falco leucurus, Forsters Drawings, No. 34. MS. 
Novse Zelandise, Gm. 
australis, Lath. 
Circaetus antarcticus, Less. 
It will be observed in the above list of synonyms, which I have given on the 
authority of Mr. G. R. Gray, that this bird, although possessing well marked 
characters, has received several specific names. Mr. Gray’s discovery of 
Forster’s original drawing with the name F. leucurus written on it, I consider very 
fortunate, as it was indispensable that the names by which it is mentioned in 
most ornithological works, namely, Falco or Polyborus Novce Zclandice , should 
be changed. There is not, I believe, the slightest reason for supposing that 
this bird has ever been found in New Zealand. All the specimens which of 
late years have been brought to England have come from the Falkland Islands, 
or the extreme southern portion of South America. The sub-family, moreover, 
to which it belongs, is exclusively American ; and I do not know of any case 
of a land bird being common to this continent and New Zealand. The origin of 
this specific name, which is so singularly inappropriate, as tending to perpetuate 
a belief which would form a strange anomaly in the geographical distribution 
of these birds, may be explained by the circumstance of specimens having been 
first brought to Europe by the naturalists during Captain Cook’s second voyage, 
during which New Zealand was visited, and a large collection made there. In 
the homeward voyage, however, Cook anchored in Christmas Sound, in Tierra 
del Fuego, and likewise in Staten Land : describing the latter place he says, 
“ I have often observed the eagles and vultures sitting on the hillocks among the 
shags, without the latter, either young or old, being disturbed at their presence. 
It may be asked how these birds of prey live? I suppose on the carcasses of 
seals and birds, which die by various causes ; and probably not few, as they are 
so numerous.” From this description I entertain very little doubt that Cook 
referred to the Cathartes aura and Milvago leucurus , both of which birds inhabit 
these latitudes, as we shall hereafter show. 
