1 2 Tr ansae tions . — Miscellaneous . 



stems. But nearly all the Procellaridae, the Laridae, and 

 the Pehcanidae are still to be found in vast numbers. In 

 1891 I visited the Snares, and was filled with amazement 

 at the number of petrels that made their appearance on 

 the approach of evening. From the surface of tiie sea to 

 the greatest height at which it was possible to distinguish 

 them they were to be seen in myriads, and gave me such 

 an idea of their vast numbers as 1 had never before been 

 able to realise ; while their rapid but graceful evolutions were 

 a never-ending source of pleasure. The scene reminded one 

 of the countless vistas of stars opened to the eye of the ob- 

 server through a good telescope, or, perhaps better still, of 

 the ever advancing and receding hosts of bacteria to be 

 seen in infusions under a high power of the microscope. 

 The vast assemblage of penguins to be seen on the Bounty 

 Islands did not impress me with nearly such overwhelming 

 ideas of the numbers of marine birds as that memorable 

 aerial scene at the Snares. 



The common shag {PJialacrocorax varius, Gml.), which 

 was formerly frequent on the banks of fresh-water, and more 

 rarely of tidal, rivers, has certainly diminished of late years, 

 although there is no danger of its immediate extinction ; but, 

 on the whole, there seems very little, if any, diminution in the 

 numbers of the marine cormorants. 



Passing from the sea-birds to the Apterygidae, a widely 

 different state of affairs is found to prevail. Apteryx. mantelli 

 (Bartl.) of the North Island is in much the same position as 

 A. anstralis (Shaw) and A. 07ceni (Gould) of the Soutli Island 

 (but also found sparingly in the North). All alike are extinct, 

 or nearly extinct, over large districts in which they were 

 formerly so plentiful that explorers and surveyors calculated 

 on their furnishing a considerable portion of the food-supply ; 

 but this is now entirely out of the question, and every year 

 brings the date of their complete extinction appreciably closer. 

 Their supply of food is indirectly reduced by the rabbits, 

 which in some cases have invaded their haunts ; their eggs 

 are destroyed by wekas and rats ; and the adult birds are 

 killed wholesale by stoats, weasels, wild cats, and occasionally 

 by dogs w'hich have escaped from domestication. The com- 

 plete extinction of these interesting birds by agencies now in 

 operation will not extend over a lengthened period. 



It is not easy to determine the effects produced by inti'O- 

 duced birds upon the indigenous birds of the colony, nor in all 

 cases to trace the lines along which their influence has been 

 exerted ; but it is advisable to make brief mention of the kinds 

 that have become most exteiisively naturalised. The Chinese 

 pheasant (Phasiamis torquatus, Gml.) is abundant in many 

 districts, and by its superior vigour has almost completely 



