THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
however identically typical in form it may be, and however similar in structure 
to those noble birds, it is far more feeble and less able to cope with large 
sized prey than its representatives of the snowy and glacial regions. In 
point of courage it will probably prove to be entitled to the first rank among 
the Australian Falconidce.” 
Captain Sturt’s own account reads : “ The Grey Falcon {Falco hypo- 
leucus) was shot at the Depot, at which place during our long stay, Mr. Piesse, 
my storekeeper, was very successful with my gun. A pair, male and female, 
were observed by him one Sunday in May, whilst the men were at prayers, 
hovering very high in the air, soon after which he succeeded in killing both. 
They came down from a great height and pitched in the trees on the banks 
of the creek, and on Mr. Piesse firing at and killing one the other flew away, 
but on returning to look for its lost companion, shared its fate. Nothing 
could exceed the delicate beauty of these birds when first procured. Their 
large full eyes, the vivid yellow of the cere and legs, together with their slate- 
coloured plumage, every feather lightly marked at the end, was quite dazzling ; 
but all soon faded from the living brightness they had at first. These two 
specimens were the only ones seen during an interval of seventeen months 
that the party was in the interior, and these, it appears probable to me, were 
on the flight and were attracted down to us.” 
Mr. G. A. Heartland’s notes, which I quote from North, Austr. Mus, 
Spec. Cat., No. 1, Vol. III., p. 268, 1912, read : “ The Grey Falcon {Falco 
hypoleucus) is occasionally met with in Gippsland, but I have only shot two, 
both of which were in quest of chickens at the farms where I was staying. 
It is more frequently seen in the West MacDonneU Ranges, Central Australia, 
than any other part I have visited. Still occasionally pairs may be found 
right across from North-western Australia to Queensland. Although strongly 
built they are slow fliers, and are usually seen skimming just over the tops of 
the Triodia tussocks, ready to pounce on any lizards, snakes or small animals 
such as mice, jerboa or rats. When its wants are supplied it usually perches 
on the highest branch of a dead tree, where it remains until disturbed or 
hunger necessitates further exertion. Their nests are built of sticks and 
closely resemble those of the Brown Hawk, but their eggs are of a light brown 
colour.” 
Berney {Emu, Vol. V., p. 18, 1905), writing from North Queensland states : 
“ Never saw these {Falco hypoleucus) on the open country of Wyangarie, 
but since coming over on to the scrubby basalt ranges of Spring Valley I 
have noticed them more than once, and obtained one for identification on 
the 1st June, 1905. It proved to be a young male just changing from 
immaturity to maturity, the white feathers still showing among the grey. 
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