296 Transactions. — Zoology. 



branches of the scrub under which the bird had ehided us was 

 about 20in. high, thus aifording a means of approximately 

 determining its height." I should have supposed that this 

 merely proved that the bird was less than 20ni. high, and did 

 not, even approximately, determine how much less ; but Mr. 

 Park's ideas of evideiice are peculiar. Having now no doubt 

 whatever on the matter, he goes on to say, " The JSlotornis 

 remained in the vicinity of the camp during our stay at this 

 place, being evidently more curious than alarmed at our pre- 

 sence. He generally sallied forth at dusk and retired at 

 daybreak." 



With regard to the assumed nocturnal habits of the takahe, 

 I may say that what little evidence there is on the subject is 

 all against the assumption. At least two of the three speci- 

 mens caught alive were found and run down in broad daylight. 



Mr. Park's next experience occurred a few days later, when 

 camped on the Matukituki with the same party. Shortly after 

 dusk they " heard the note of a Notornis " (this assumption of 

 certainty runs through the whole article), and this time they 

 disturbed the bird, though they did not see it ; but they saw 

 the " shallow hole in the dry sand" where the bird had been 

 dusting itself. 



The following evening Mr. Park was more fortunate, and, 

 looking cautiously over the bank, actually caught a passing 

 view of the bird, though we are not informed at what distance. 

 He admits that "in the uncertain starlight " he could " only 

 make out its general outline," and that " it must be remem- 

 bered that it was only in sight a few seconds ; " but the " im- 

 pression it left on " his " mind at the time was that its colour 

 was very dark and its height about that of a full-grown turkey." 

 As to this, I need only say that, as Mr. Park was quite certain 

 he was about to see a takahe, and then saw something under 

 the very untrustworthy conditions he describes, it would have 

 been strange if the impression left on his mind had been any- 

 thing else. 



Mr. Park then relates how, seven years later (in January 

 of last year), he was in Dusky Sound, and heard " the ]<!otoy- 

 nis " on several occasions- — so often, indeed, that, if the mys- 

 terious notes had really been due to takahes, these birds must 

 be about as common on the West Coast as kiwis. He was, 

 however, never again fortunate enough to see one. The next 

 piece of evidence is that of Mr. Park's " field-hand," who also 

 " heard a takahe iu the bush," and recognised the booming 

 note at once, as he had been " one of the party of rabbiters 

 who caught the takahe near Lake Te Anau in 1880," and had 

 there often heard the note. Mr. Park sublimely adds, "I 

 considered this evidence conclusive that this was indeed the 

 Notornis.'' This conclusive evidence is, however, a httle 



