Eeischek. — On the Islands in the South. 379 



about thirty-three miles in length; its greatest breadth is 

 about twenty miles. Passing the eastern side of Wilson's 

 Bay "we noticed a few houses scattered about near the shore, 

 and some cattle grazing on the pastures. We steamed through 

 Port Adventure, where the photographer obtained some fine 

 views, and then went on as far as Lord's Eiver, where we 

 anchored. Two boats were lowered : one, manned by the 

 second mate and some sailors, went fishing ; the other was 

 in charge of the captain, and this our party accompanied. 

 We pulled up the river, which opens out into numerous pretty 

 little bays. Its banks are low^ and broken, and densely wooded, 

 mostly with mountain rata (Metrosideros lucida), manuka 

 (Leptospermum scoparium), rimu {Dacrydium cupressinum) , 

 and some other slirubs. The scenery was varied and magni- 

 ficent. W'e saw a few paradise ducks (Casarca variegata), 

 numbers of grey ducks (Anas supcrciliosa) and brown ducks 

 (Anas chlorotis) ; but they were all very shy. Nevertheless, 

 several nearly full-gi'own young of the latter were caught 

 alive. A small species of weka, not yet described, was caught 

 peeping out between the rocks. Its plumage is rust-red ; each 

 feather has a blackish-brown streak in the centre ; wings 

 rust-red with black bars ; throat yellowish-grey ; breast rust- 

 red ; abdomen slaty-grey ; bill and feet pink, the ridge of the 

 former brown ; eyes chestnut-brown. Total length from tip 

 of bill to end of tail, 17in. ; wing, 5-oin. ; bill, l-8in. ; tarsus. 

 Sin. On the trees overhanging the river numerous shags 

 (Phalacrocorax glaucus and P. varius) were sitting digesting 

 their last meal. Great numbers of kaka parrots (Nestor 

 montana) were flying about warning their mates of our ap- 

 proach, while the bell-birds (Anthornis mclanura) and tuis 

 (Prosthcmadcra novcB-zcalandice) welcomed us with their melo- 

 dious whistles. A full-grown young tui was not sufficiently 

 on the alert, for w^e saw a quail-hawk (Hieracidca nova- 

 zealandia) dart down on it, seize it in his talons, and bear it 

 away to a secluded tree. I shot the hawk while in the act of 

 devouring its victim, and here is the specimen. On returning 

 to the steamer the other boat came alongside laden with fish. 

 Some hapukas weighed 801b., and there were many trum- 

 peters and rock-cod. The next day found us storm-bound 

 and at anchor off Evening Cove, in the extensive and beautiful 

 harbour of Port Pegasus. Here I noticed the yellow-headed 

 penguin (Etidyptes antipodum), so seldom seen by collectors. 

 They were playing about the boat, and some were in the bush 

 feeding their young, which they had in burrows. On land 

 their movements are very ungainly, being a kind of waddling, 

 or hopping walk. A sailor of the " Stella" shot one, imagining 

 it to be a wallaby ! During our stay here we noticed a sea- 

 leopard fishing amongst the kelp a short distance from the 



