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Birds

The most extraordinary ornithie feature of New Zealand is the existence in past ages of gigantic birds, the Hapa-gornis, the Dinornis or Moa, and the Cnemiornis—a gigantic goose'. The Moa, skeletons of which may be seen in various museums, has been extinct for hundreds of years. Nevertheless, as the avifauna of New Zealand has probably been longer isolated than that of any other part of the globe, there is possibly no other country in the world more interesting to ornithologists.

The following are some of the birds peculiar to New Zealand: The Paradise Dick or Putangitangi (Casarca variegata), the Brown Dick or Pateke (Anas chlorotis) and the Blue Duck or Whio (Hymenolaimus malacor-hynchus) and also the Black Teal or Papango Fuligula novœ-sealandiœ) are all found in both islands. The Kaka

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or Brown Parrot (Nestor meridionalis) is to be met with in both islands, but the Kea (Nestor notabilis) is only found in the South Island and then only in alpine regions. This latter parrot, formerly strictest of vegatarians, has developed a taste for mutton. It sometimes attacks live sheep, and

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with its sharp beak digs into the bodies, for the fat surrounding the kidneys. The Laughing Owl or Whekau (Athene albifacies) is found principally in the South Island, but the Stitch-Bird or Matakiore (Pogonornis cincta), and the Huia (Heteralocha acutirostris) whose feathers are worn by the Maori rangatira, are only to be met with in the North Island. The Tui or Parson Bird (Prosthemadera novœ-zealandiœ) is a pretty but unfortunately rapidly diminishing species common to both islands. There are two Thrushes or Piopio in this country, the one, Turnagra crassirostris, is now rare and only found in the South Island; the other, the T. hectori is confined to the southern part of the North Island. The Swamp Hen or Pukeko (Porphirio melanotis) is common to both islands. The Kiwi (Apteryx) is an interesting wingless bird, of which there are four varieties. There are also four kinds of Woodhen or Weka (Ocydromus) peculiar to this country, and a native Pigeon, Kereru or Kuku (Carpophaga novœ-zealandiœ) common to both islands. This pretty bird feeds on berries and leaves, and its flesh is delicious eating. The Bell-Bird or Korimako (Anthornis melanura) is found chiefly in the South Island, and its note is of unmistakable bell-like quality. As Aflalo has well said; "In New Zealand fifty-eight out of sixty-nine families of land birds are found nowhere else—not, as might be expected, all flightless birds, for these number only twenty, including four species of apteryx, a duck, the Kakapo or ground parrot, the Notornis, and a dozen (Ocydromus) wood-hens."

Since this was written a new and interesting book, "Nature in New Zealand," edited by Capt. F. W. Hutton, f.R.S., has appeared. It is written simply, for the non-scientific reader.

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