Handly. — On some Species of New Zealand Birds. 363 



robbery of the nests containing eggs and young of several 

 species of acclimatised birds. The latest record of their occur- 

 rence is 26th March. 



Owing to its general resemblance at a distance to the 

 greenfinch (C. chloris) the shining cuckoo is, I believe, in 

 numberless instances mistaken for that species. Compara- 

 tively few people here seem to be acquainted with it, though 

 very common. 



Wood-pigeon (Carpojjhaga nova-zealandice, Gml.). 

 Irregularly distributed ; albinoes are often shot. 



South Island Kiwi {Apteryx australis, Shaw) ; Grey Kiwi 

 (A. oweni, Gould). 



Both species have now become very rare. Individuals of 

 the latter species are now confined to the high precipitous 

 hills bordering Cook Strait, notably Port Underwood, from 

 where a few are occasionally procured. The back ranges of 

 the Wairau Valley, the Wakamarma, Mahakipawa, and Wai- 

 kakaho Goldfields, as well as portions of forest-country within 

 the confines of the Queen Charlotte, Pelorus, and Kenepuru 

 Sounds, are the haunts of the main remnant. 



Eastern Golden Plover {Gharadrius fulvus, Gml.). 



A specimen was shot at the Wairau bar early in January. 

 I heard the particulars of its capture some days after it was 

 shot, and endeavoured to secure it, but the shooter had in the 

 meantime eaten the body, no doubt with satisfaction to him- 

 self, but giving me cause for regret, as I do not possess a 

 specimen. 



Dottrel (Gharadrius bicinctus, Jard.). 



The dottrel is very numerous along the sandy shores of 

 the southern portions of the province, but rare in the Sounds. 

 Throughout the year considerable numbers habitually fre- 

 quent the river-beds and stony pastures far inland. While 

 crossing the Taylor Eiver-bed on horseback one evening I 

 noticed a dottrel flying along, as if wounded, a few yards 

 in advance of a retriever ; the dog entered into the chase with 

 spirit, coursing up and down the river-bed until it seemed 

 perfectly tired, and was returning to the road again when the 

 dottrel, observing the direction it was taking, flew again in 

 front of it and repeated its antics, until, having, no doubt, 

 betrayed it past the spot where its eggs or young were con- 

 cealed, it mounted high in the air and wheeled back again. 



Crook-bill Plover {Anarhynchus frontalis, Quoy et Gaim.). 



Eesorts to the mud-flats at the Wairau bar, and I have 

 also met with it on the Awatere and Spring Creek river-beds. 



