228 Transactions. — Zoology. 



of it, and at these times when it uttered its note we could 

 distinctly feel the ground vibrate beneath us. We, however, 

 failed to catch a glimpse of it, as in the intense darkness of 

 the forest this was quite impossible, excepting it chanced to 

 get between us and the fire, which it carefully avoided doing. 



The next day I examined the scene of the previous night's 

 adventures, and found that the clear space below the matted 

 branches of the scrub under which the bird had eluded us 

 was about 20in. high, thus affording a means of approxi- 

 mately determining its height. 



The Notornis remained in the vicinity of the camp during 

 our stay at this place, being evidently more curious than 

 alarmed at our presence. He generally sallied forth at dusk 

 and retired at daybreak, his deep note completely dwarfing 

 the cries of the kiwi and noisy kakapo. 



On the 29th January we struck our tents and returned to 

 our old camping- ground near the forks of the Matukituki. 

 Shortly after dusk of this evening we heard the note of a 

 Notorvis, and, proceeding up the south branch to the upper 

 end of the gorge, I disturbed the bird under a sandbank close 

 to the river. On examining this spot I found that it had 

 scraped a shallow hole in the dry sand, after the same 

 manner, and probably for the same purpose, as the common 

 barn-door fowl. 



The river-flats at this place, situated about 1,700ft. above 

 the sea, are covered with a scanty mixed bush, affording but 

 little cover ; the ground, however, is thickly strewn with large 

 masses of rock which have fallen from the steep cliffs on the 

 south side of the river, and below which the Notornis no doubt 

 found shelter during the day-time. 



The next evening I again proceeded to the upper end of 

 the gorge, where the Notornis announced his arrival by his 

 loud note. Knowing where to look for it, I approached the 

 bank as cautiously as possible, but, just as I looked over, it 

 scampered away as fast as it could run. 



On this occasion I was fortunate enough to catch a passing 

 view of it, although in the uncertain starlight I could only 

 make out its general outline. It must be remembered that it 

 was only in sight a few seconds ; but the impression it left 

 upon my mind at the time was that its colour was very dark, 

 and its height about that of a full-grown turkey. An im- 

 portant fact to be noted here is that, although I got within a 

 few feet of it, the bird made no attempt to fly, but ran away 

 very swiftly, and without making any sound or cry of alarm. 

 There can be little doubt that with a sharp dog I could easily 

 have caught it ; but, unfortunately, we had no dog attached 

 to our camp at this time. 



Seven years now elapsed before the Notornis again came 



