Smith. — On the Birds of Lake Brunner District. 223 



PJialacrocorax novcB-zcalanclicB (Black Shag). 



P. varius (Pied Shag). 



P. brevirostris (White-throated Shag). 



All these species inhabit Lake Brunner and the rivers of 

 the lake valley, the pied and white-throated species being most 

 plentiful. There is an ample supply of food at all seasons iu 

 the form of eels, grayling, and the two species of bull-trout. 

 There are two shaggeries of varius on the Arnold, one on each 

 side of the river below the lake, having about sixty nests in 

 each, placed on trees all more or less overhanging the river. 

 In fine weather they delight to rest in groups of young and 

 old together on gnarled leaning stumps along the shore, some 

 leisurely picking and oiling their feathers, others in easy 

 natural positions, with the head under the wing or drawn 

 close into the body, the plumage of the white-throated shag 

 reflecting brilliantly in the sunshine. Like the blue duck, 

 they rest frequently on the projecting boulders in mid stream, 

 enjoying the spray of the surging waters. 



Apteryx australis (South Island Kiwi). 



The South Island kiwi exists in considerable numbers in 

 the bush around the lake. It is most numerous on the east 

 and north-east sides, where large patches of Sphagnum moss 

 {S. cyvihifoli7im) cover the damp bottom of the bush, in the 

 places where the trees and undergrowth are thinnest. They 

 generally live in pairs, and during the night visit the beds of 

 Sjyhagnum moss, probing carefully through it with their long 

 sensitive bill in search of minute larvae, chrysalides, and worms. 

 They affect the beds of leaf-mould, and probe vigorously 

 through it procuring the large worms existing in the mould. 

 They ramble through the night among the dense beds of ferns, 

 consuming nocturnal insects. Their shrill call is heard loudest 

 on dark and drizzly nights, or before rain, and is answered by 

 other kiwis in every direction. 



After examining some of the secluded habitats of the rarer 

 species of birds on the west coast, I have no doubt that an 

 ornithological ramble through the Westlaud bush, accom- 

 panied with one or two good dogs, would yet reveal the exist- 

 ence of Notornis viantelli, as the species is of shy and retiring 

 habits. It would in all probability be found in the swampy 

 parts of the bush, or about the sedgy lagoons some distance 

 inland on the southern rivers of Westland. The country is 

 difficult to explore, being composed for the most part of dense 

 and trackless forest. The capture of a single specimen of this 

 rara avis would, however, amply repay for all patience and 

 toil expended in exploring the bush. If the Notornis still 

 lingers in the South Island, the district I have mentioned is 



