370 Transactions. — Zoology. 



in the shrubberies, or seen them on the lawns. For the last 

 three years during winter flocks of starlings have been noticed 

 on the run. 



In one small patch of bush a peahen has lived alone for 

 three or four seasons. 1 believe there are no other examples 

 of this breed within twelve miles. 



A blackbird has been heard in the Matahaura Gorge, on 

 the Napier-Gisborne Eoad. 



Of game birds I have seen pheasants, partridges, Austra- 

 lian and Californian quail. The partridges have utterly dis- 

 appeared, probably also the Australian quail. The pheasants 

 and Californian quail still fight it out with rats, cats, dogs, 

 weasels, wekas, and lastly man. In all, fifteen species of 

 imported birds have been noticed on Tutira up to July, 

 1895. 



Of the 176 New Zealand birds enumerated by Sir Walter 

 Buller, no less than thirty-five have been observed on the run. 

 Taking into consideration the species only to be found in the 

 South Island, the sea-birds, the Chatham Island representa- 

 tives, and these Australian birds, which are really but visitors, 

 I think the number is large. As out of the nine ducks native 

 to the Island seven have been observed on the run, the swim- 

 mers may first be considered. 



The paradise -duck, once a pretty frequent visitor, now 

 appears but rarely. The traffic and the shepherds and bark- 

 ing of dogs may be the cause, though not altogether, for on 

 two occasions I have seen a brace of these birds not sixty yards 

 from the Petane Hotel on a paddock close to the road. This 

 handsome sheldrake offers a good example of double sexual 

 selection ; and of all bn-ds that simulate lameness the para- 

 dise-duck does so most perfectly. Throughout the Mackenzie 

 Country, in the South Island, this bird is very common. At 

 the head of Lake Tekapo, under the glaciers and streaks of 

 perpetual sraow, while angling I have watched with interest 

 the stratagems used to decoy me away from the eggs or duck- 

 lings, the bird now trailing a broken wing, now dropping on 

 an injured leg. On the smaller pools and lakelets the brown 

 duck is pretty numerous. He is a tame little fellow, and 

 takes to flight with some unwallingness. The grey duck we 

 have also, but few of these birds abide with us. Even when 

 shooting is going on at other spots the grey duck does not stay. 



Last year a shoveller rested for a short time on one of the 

 smaller lakes. About seven years ago, after a violent southerly 

 gale, a brace of blue ducks appeared on the lake. Although 

 the " whio " or "whistler," as the natives call it, is fairly 

 plentiful, this is the only occasion it has been seen away from 

 the haunts peculiarly its own — the rushing, shadowed creeks 

 half-blind with fern and koromiko. I have given orders that 



