LITTLE FALCON. 
succeeded in securing its prey. Then shooting into the air some 40 feet, 
it dropped to the ground,” 
Berney {Emu, Vol. V., p. 18, 1905) observed : “ This species is only to 
be seen (Richmond District, North Queensland) very occasionally. It is the 
most daring, I think, of the family, and the most feared by its victims. 
What grand birds they would make for the falconer ! ” 
An interesting item by E. D. Barnard appears in the Emu, Vol. IX., p. 29, 
1909, from Gladstone, Queensland : “ Some little time ago the noise of the 
dray I was driving startled a common bat from his hiding-place in the hollow 
spout of a tree. A Little Falcon {Falco lunulatus) perched on the top of a high 
tree instantly noticed the bat, and dashed down to secure (as he thought) 
an easy prey. But as he swooped, the bat ducked, and apparently diving 
between the Falcon’s legs, fluttered away. The Falcon turned like a flash 
and quickly overtook the little fugitive, with the same result. Time and 
again did the Falcon swoop, his claws outspread to grip, and time after time 
did the bat, by his fluttering, dodgy flight, evade his pursuer. At length, the 
bat, seeing a hollow spout near, dashed into it, and next second the Falcon 
settled, but — too late.” 
From Kimberley, North-west Australia, Hill noted {Emu, Vol. X., p. 267, 
1911): “These birds {Falco lunulatus) were very uncommon excepting in 
March and April. The crops of two birds examined contained portions of 
two small birds and many locusts.” 
Macgillivray has published the following in the Emu, Vol. XIII., p. 152, 
1914 : “ Writing from Sedan, Mr. M’Lennan sent the following notes : 
24th February, 1910. — ‘ Saw a Little Falcon trying to catch dragonflies at 
the swamp. Sometimes it caught them, but more frequently missed.’ 
31st March, 1910.^ — ‘ When returning from the Big DalgoneUy Lake to 
Byromine, a Little Falcon accompanied me for some distance, catching the 
grasshoppers as they rose from under my horse’s feet. It was very quiet, 
and would let me approach to within a few feet of it when perched on a tree.’ 
4th April, 1910. — ‘ A pair of Little Falcons at the Big DalgoneUy Lake have 
taken possession of an old Whistling Eagle’s nest at the edge of the lake, 
and will probably breed there later on.’ Also noted at Cape York.” 
In my ‘‘List” I admitted three subspecies (p. 110-1) thus: 
Falco longipennis longipennis Swainson (Tasmania). 
Synonyms : Falco lunulatus Latham (not Daudin), (New South Wales). 
Falco frontatus Gould (New South Wales). 
Falco rufiventer Gould (nom. nud.). 
Falco melanotus White and Mellor (Flinders Island). 
Distribution : East Australia ; Tasmania. 
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