360 Transactions. — Zoology. 



Art. XXXIII. — Notes on some Species of Neiv Zealand 



Birds. 



By J. Walling Handly. 



Communicated by Sir Walter Buller. 



[Read before the Wellington Pliilosopliical Society, 21st August, 1895.'] 



Harrier {Circus cjouldi, Bonap.). 



Tlie harrier is the most plentiful and generally-distributed 

 species of rapacious bird in this district, appeai-ing to be as 

 equally at home on the settler's clearing as when coursing over 

 the wide tussocky uplands on the back-stations. Of late years 

 it has sensibly din:iinished, partly owing to the depredations 

 of rabbiters, who seem to make a general practice of extermi- 

 nating all birds that may unwarily frequent their preserves, 

 in order to protect their own particular quarry. 



An instance illustrative of the acute olfactory sense of 

 this species came under my notice about two years ago. A 

 gentleman of my acquaintance, who was experimenting with a 

 new process of rabbit-trapping on a station near Blenheim, 

 placed a dozen rabbits in the station woolshed, intending to 

 forward them to the rabbit-factory the succeeding morning. 

 Illness, however, prevented him from visiting the locality for a 

 few days, when he perceived the roof of the shed, over the 

 part where the rabbits were hanging, crowded with harriers, 

 vulture-like, silently waiting for their prey. 



Sparrow-hawk (Hieracidea nova- zeal andia, Lath.) ; Bush- 

 hawk {H.ferox, Peale). 

 Both tolerably numerous. 



Morepork (Spiloglaux novce-zealandice, Gml.). 



Common ; an occasional specimen may often be heard 

 quite close to town. Some time ago one was caught while 

 attempting to capture a caged goldfinch hanging under a 

 verandah here. 



Dollar-bird {Eurystomus pacifictis, Lath.). 

 An occasional straggler from Australia. 



Kingfisher {Halcyon vagans, Lesson). 



This splendidly-coloured bird may be regarded as one of 

 our commonest birds, being generally found in all suitable 

 localities throughout the province. During the autumn and 

 winter months they congregate in considerable numbers ; 



