219 
Jacquinot in the * Annales des Sciences Naturelles,’ 2nd series, vol. xvi. p. 47 ; but, according to the 
letterpress of the ‘ Voyage au Pole Sud,’ Zool. vol. iii. p. 47, this name was given to the species 
inhabiting the Auckland Islands as well as New Zealand, which is II. novce zealandice. I therefore 
agree with Dr. Buller in considering ‘ Falco australis ’ a synonym of the larger species.” He also 
questions Mr. Sharpe’s right to sink the specific name of brunnea, for he argues that “ its having been 
proposed fora species of the genus Tinnunculus does not render its employment illegitimate when it is 
applied to a bird belonging to another and distinct genus.” As will be seen, however, I have 
followed Mr. Sharpe in this respect, so as to avoid all possible confusion of names in the future. 
Mr. Gurney, after a careful study of the series of specimens in the Norwich Museum, wrote to 
me saying, “I am sure you are right about the distinctness of the two New-Zealand Hieracidece ” ; 
but Professor Hutton, who still adheres to the contrary opinion, says in one of his last letters : — “ I 
examine and measure carefully every specimen of H. novce zealandice that comes in. So far as my 
present measurements go they indicate one species only.” 
Before passing on, however, to my account of Harpa ferox, I will give here the results of a 
comparison of two carefully selected birds which I exhibited at a meeting of the Philosophical 
Institute of Canterbury, as recorded in the ‘ Transactions of the New-Zealand Institute ’ : — 
“ Among Hawks generally — and the genus Hieracidea is no exception to the rule — the female is both larger 
and more handsomely marked than the male. Such being the case, let us for our present argument compare an 
adult female of Hieracidea novce zealandice with an adult female of II. ferox. This will afford us the fairest mode of 
determining their relative size, and the best means of ascertaining any differences in the plumage of the two 
species. 
“For this purpose I shall lay before the meeting two specimens selected from the type collection in the Canter- 
bury Museum. The larger of these birds was obtained at Castle Hill, and the other on the Bealey — well known 
localities within this province — and both individuals proved on dissection to be females. The following is a com- 
parative statement of their measurements : — 
H. novce zealandice. 
H. ferocc. 
inches. 
inches. 
Extreme length 
19-5 
16 
Wing from flexure 
12 
10-5 
Tail 
8'5 
7-75 
Culmen (from cere to tip) .... 
1 
•8 
Tarsus 
2'5 
2-2 
Middle toe and claw 
2-8 
2-25 
Hind toe and claw 
1-85 
1-35 
“It will be seen from this that Hieracidea nova zealandice is a considerably larger bird than H. ferox. It has a 
proportionately powerful bill, while its legs and feet are decidedly more robust. In the colours and markings of 
the plumage there is a general similarity between them ; but on a close comparison of the two examples exhibited 
it will be seen that H. nova zealandice has the bars on the upper surface far more distinct and numerous besides 
being of a brighter rufous, the tail-coverts are more conspicuously marked, the bars on the tail are broader and 
whiter, and there is a larger amount of white on the throat, breast, and abdomen. In the present example of H. 
ferox the breast is much darker than in the other bird, the middle portion of each feather being occupied by a broad 
lanceolate mark of blackish brown, and there is less of the buff and rufous stains which impart so warm an effect 
to the breast of H. nova zealandice. There are other minute points of difference, but these may be mere individual 
peculiarities. Enough has, however, been pointed out to show that the two species may be readily distinguished 
from each other ; and this is the only point at issue. 
“ Of course the whole value of this evidence depends on the accuracy of the ‘ sexing ’ in each case. I think 
this, however, is placed beyond all doubt, for the larger bird was determined by Mr. J. D. Enys, who obtained it, 
while the smaller one was received at the Museum in the flesh, and was dissected by the taxidermist for the express 
purpose of ascertaining the sex. Mr. Fuller assures me that he was most careful in his examination, and that the 
specimen exhibited is to an absolute certainty a female/’ 
2 f 2 
