Sandagee. — On the Mokohiiiou hJaiuls. 2.S7 



and these only for a shoj-t time of the year. This is not 

 because the birds are less abundant than formerly — quite 

 the contrar}" — but they have to some extent become accus- 

 tomed to the light, and, though attracted by it, generally 

 succeed in getting above or below the rays instead of circling 

 round on a level with them ; the san^e birds no doubt returning 

 year after year till prevented by death or accident. I cannot 

 otherwise account for their ability to avoid entanglement in 

 the rays, more especially in thick weather. The two species 

 ■which do strike in any numbers are Cook's petrel and Thalas- 

 sidroma fregata, the former on its way to and from its breeding- 

 place on the Little Barrier, and the latter on emerging from 

 or returning to its burrow in the early j^art of the night. 

 Cook's petrel is at all times attracted by a light — so much so 

 that on the breeding-ground the birds will come close up to an 

 open fire. In January, 1886, I secured a large Piiffimit; that 

 flew against the lantern, which on examination proved abun- 

 dantly distinct from any species described in the " Birds of 

 New Zealand." I took down a description of the living bird, 

 and, placing it in strong spirits, forwarded it after a time to 

 Mr. T. F. Cheesenian, F.L.S., for preservation and identifica- 

 tion, it being impossible for me to get away from the island ; 

 and Mr. Cheeseman subsequently informed me that he had 

 been unable to identify it with any species of which a descrip- 

 tion was in Ins possession. I have described the bird below 

 under the name of Puffinns zealandicus, and as soon as the 

 specimen is returned to me it will be set up and deposited in 

 one of our museums ; but so far, I regret to say, nothing has 

 been done to it. 



Circtis go nidi. 



More or less abundant all the year. Destroys considerable 

 numbers of one of the stormy petrels {TJialassidroma fregata) 

 during the breeding-season, sometimes entering the short 

 burrow, or waiting at the hole till the unsuspicious tenant 

 comes to the mouth of it for air : this it has to do frequently, 

 the nest being only a few inches below the surface, which is 

 baked by the midsummer sun. At sunrise during the month 

 of June I have frequently counted as many as thirty at a time 

 coming from the south-east and flying towards the west or 

 west-south-west. 



Athene novcB-zealandice. 



Does not breed here, but visits occasionally. 



Halcyon vagans. 



Arrives in February and depai'ts in August or Septeuiber. 

 None breed here. 



