300 . - Transactions. — Zoology. 



themselves, since the kakapo is practically extinct in the 

 North Island, while the Maoris are almost equally scarce in 

 the kakapo districts of the South. 



To return to Mr. Park's article, I must add that if the 

 writer had been at all well acquainted with the habits of the 

 kakapo he would at once have suspected who was his nightly 

 visitant. Besides the fact that there are so few birds of any size 

 in our New Zealand bush that confusion on the subject is all 

 the more inexcusable, Mr. Park's description of the mysterious 

 bird's behaviour at the camp-fire is the conmion experience of 

 every one accustomed, to camping in bush where the kakapo 

 is plentiful. I have often, when camped out on the West 

 Coast mountains, been obliged to tie the dogs up all night to 

 save these birds, while visiting our fires, from being uselessly 

 killed. Again, the incident of the unknown bird having been 

 dusting itself in a " shallow hole in the sand " should at once 

 have suggested the real truth of the matter to any West Coast 

 bushman. This is one of the common habits of the kakapo, 

 and these dusting-holes are often the first signs of the presence 

 of these birds in the bush. Then, the nature of the country, 

 and the time of day — or night — in w^hich Mr. Park's adventures 

 occurred, are exactly suited to the habits of the kakapo. 



But perhaps I need say no more. Some may object that I 

 have already paid more attention to this article than it de- 

 serves. But, however harmless at present, in years to come, 

 when most of our native birds are extinct, and \vhen it is 

 therefore too late to disprove Mr. Park's conclusions, these 

 confident assertions might seriously mislead future students 

 of such subjects. To me it seems a grave misfortune that 

 such a careless, erroneous, and illogical paper should ever have 

 attained to such a position of importance and permanence as 

 is assured by its being admitted into what is generally sup- 

 posed to be a scientific publication. 



Akt. XXXIV. — On the Habits of the New Zealand Bush- rat 



(Mus maorium). 



By Joshua Eutland. 

 Connnunicated by Professor Hutton. 



[Read before the Philosophical Tnstitiite of Canferhurij, 2nd May, 1SS9.] 



The countless swarms of rats that periodically make their 

 appearance in the bush country of the South Island, though 

 casually noticed by the settlers ever since the founding of the 

 colony, have not until recently attracted the attention of 



