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reddish tint. The other is more broadly elliptical, measuring in its axis 1-9 ; diameter 1-45. It 
wants the well-defined dark zone of the former, the whole surface being more or less mottled and 
blotched with reddish brown on a paler ground. 
The fine series of eggs of this species in the Canterbury Museum exhibit considerable individual 
variation. Two specimens, taken from the same nest, are more ovoid o-conical than ordinary examples, 
having an appreciably smaller end. One of these is of a rich reddish brown towards the larger end, 
with darker blotches, and towards the other end pale brown, profusely sprinkled and mottled with dark 
reddish brown. The other is somewhat similar, but more blotched with dark brown in its median 
circumference, and with the ground-tint towards the smaller end reduced to a whitish cream-colour. 
In two other examples (also from one nest) the whole surface is reddish brown, stained, mottled, 
and blotched with darker brown ; but one of them has the brown of a richer tint, and the mottled 
character more distinct. 
Among the more recent additions to this collection there is a singular specimen ot the egg of 
this species. It is very ovoido-elliptical in form, measuring 2'25 inches by T4, of a waim sepia- 
brown, prettily freckled and spotted, more thickly so in the middle, and confluent in a laige patch at 
the larger end, with reddish brown varied with darker brown. 
A very handsome specimen in my son’s collection (obtained at Oamaru) is broadly ovoido-conical, 
measuring T9 iuch in length by T3 in breadth ; it is of a rich cream-colour, thickly spotted, speckled, 
and freckled over the entire surface with dull reddish and chocolate-brown, these markings becoming 
entirely confluent at the larger end, which is entirely reddish brown smudged and daubed all over 
with chocolate-brown. 
On the subject of the systematic position of this form, Dr. Finsch published the following 
remarks in the ‘Journal fur Ornithologie’ for March 1872, which I have translated from the 
German : — “ Falco novae zealandice must be ranged among the Tree-Falcons, and follows next in order 
to Falco femoralis, having, like the latter, a long tail, which is only half covered by the wings 
Third primary longest; second shorter and somewhat longer than fourth; first and fifth equal. 
Tarsi covered in front with ten hexagonal scutes in double rows. Middle toe very long, being with 
the claw nearly as long as the leg ; lateral toes equal, the points of their claws scarcely reaching to 
the base of the middle-toe claw. A subgeneric distinction appears justifiable.” 
Mr. Sharpe, who contributed to ‘The Ibis’ (1873, p. 827) some critical notes on the subject, 
sa y S • “ The New-Zealand Hieracidece are rather abnormal members of the Falconine series ; tor it 
is rare to find a bird which, when young, is uniform above, and becomes barred when it is old ; nor do 
they here closely coincide with their Australian congeners, excepting as regards their uniformly 
cloudy breasts when young.” He afterwards (Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. vol. i.) adopted Bonaparte s 
genus for our bird, merely altering the termination, for classical accuracy, and making it JHarpa. 
In a communication to the Wellington Philosophical Society, in September 1878 *,I took excep- 
tion to the proposed generic separation of our bird from that inhabiting Australia; but I have lately 
gone into the question with Mr. Sharpe himself and have come to the conclusion that the distinction 
he makes is a reasonable one. I have accordingly adopted Ilarpa in lieu of Hieraculea, although my 
Plate of the species, which had already been worked off, bears the latter name, being that by which 
the bird has been hitherto known in the Colony. 
Mr. Gurney in his ‘Diurnal Birds of Prey’ (p. 95) says, in reference to the smaller species 
“Mr. Sharpe applies to this Falcon the specific name of ‘ australis proposed by MM. Hombion and 
* Trans. N.-Z. Inst. vol. xi. pp. 366, 367. 
