142 MR. H. H. TBAYEBS 



Titmouse 



found in 



Mr. Hunt 



was first seen on the islands witliin tlie last eight years, and that 

 the Titmouse appeared shortly after the occurrence of the great 

 fire in Australia, known as the " Black Thursday fire." Mr. Hunt 

 is a very careful and trustworthy person ; and as his statement 

 relative to the Pigeon was confirmed by the Maories, I have full 

 reason for believing what he told me, in regard to both birds, to 

 "be true. Of aquatic birds, I saw the Grey Duck, Brown Teal, 

 and two species of Shag common in New Zealand, and a large 

 number of Grulls and other sea-birds similar to those which fre- 

 quent the coasts of that country. Mutton-birds were extra- 

 ordinarily numerous on a rock known as the Port, lying between 



Islands. During my journey round 



account 



peculiar 



This 



bird had bright scarlet markings on the wings. 1 fired 



gun 



me hung fire, and I missed the bird. I never saw another spe- 



very 



The num- 



ber of land-birds of all kinds, however, is extremely limited; 

 indeed it is rare to meet with any at all during a whole day's 

 walk in the bush. I attribute their destruction principally to 

 wild cats, the progeny of imported animals, although I was in- 

 formed that a species of Grull or Sea-Hawk also attacks the land- 

 birds, and is especially destructive to poultry. 



Besides wild cats, which are common on both islands, there are 

 on Chatham Island swarms of the Norway Eat and English 

 Mouse. I believe there were no indigenous terrestrial mammals 

 on either island, not even a bat ; but seals, of several kinds, and 

 whales and porpoises are abundant on the coasts, the former fre- 

 quenting reefs at some distance from the shore. 



I left Chatham Island about the 25 th of November, and pro- 

 ceeded to Pitt's Island, where I took up my residence with Mr. 

 Hunt. As I have before mentioned, the whole of Pitt's Island, 



with a very trifling 



first 



Island 



with the perfect identity of the great 

 with those of New Zealand : but. as vou 



the collections I made, I felt it my duty to take even those about 

 which I had no doubt whatsoever. 



In connexion with the remarkable similarity of the flora gene- 



