Buller. — Notes on New Zealand Birds. 87 



from contact with the bird's feet during incubation. He found 

 it in a hole formed by manuka-roots, and well concealed by the 

 grass ; but the dog scented it out and killed the bird on the 

 nest. This was in September, 1888. 



Apteryx haasti, Potts. (The Large Spotted Kiwi.) 



Lovers of natural history will be glad to learn that this 

 very rare species of Kiwi from the South Island — of which 

 there is only a pair in the Canterbury Museum, placed there 

 twenty years ago, and not another known specimen in any 

 other public museum, either in the colonies or in Europe — has 

 been successfully introduced into the North Island. Some 

 months ago I received a fine pair from the South, and, after 

 keeping them for some time in my Kiwi enclosure in order to 

 study their habits. I liberated them on a wooded island, a little 

 over an acre in extent, near my homestead at Papaitonga. I 

 placed on the island at the same time a pair of the small Grey 

 Kiwi {Apteryx oiveni), and, a short time previously, a single 

 North Island Kiwi {Apteryx bulleri), kindly presented to me 

 by Mr. Drew, of Wanganui, for that purpose. The locality is 

 admirably suited to such an experiment, the ground being 

 similar to that which the Kiwi frequents in its natural state, 

 and well covered with native vegetation. Being on an island 

 surrounded by a fresh-water lake about 150 acres in extent, 

 and all within my private property, they are not likely to be 

 molested in any way. But to prevent any chance of Maori 

 depredations in the breeding-season I have also placed on the 

 island three large live tuataras, kindly supplied to me by 

 Captain Fairchild. The fame of tbese lizards, of which the 

 Maoris have a most unaccountable dread, has spread far and 

 wide. I have named them after three noted dragons of the 

 past, Peketahi, Whangaimokopuna, and Horomatangi ; and 

 the Kiwis could not have three better guardians, for with this 

 dread of the ngarara no Maori will ever willingly set foot 

 on the island. The birds are apparently doing well, for their 

 shrill calls — the male and female responsively — may be heard 

 every night, the effect across the still waters of the lake being 

 very pleasing. I had intended to add a pair of Kakapo 

 {Stringops habrojptilus) to this little island community, but, 

 unfortunately, one of them died, and the other effected its 

 escape before I could accomplish my object. I fear I shall 

 not now have an opportunity of doing this till after my return 

 from England. The Kiwis, however, may be looked upon as 

 fairly established there ; and it will be interesting to note 

 whether, within their now circumscribed home, the three 

 species will interbreed or not. An experiment of this kind 

 could not be carried out under more favourable conditions, and 

 I shall not fail to inform the Societv hereafter as to the result. 



