364 Transactions. — Zoology. 



Pied Oyster-catcher {Hcematopus longirostris, Vieill.) ; Black 



Oyster-catcher (it. unicolor, Forst.). 



Both frequent the extensive mud-flats in various parts of 

 the Sounds, marshy situations far inland as well as round 

 the coasts ; they are very plentiful at Port Underwood. 



White Heron (Ardca alba, L.) ; White-fronted Heron (^4. 



nova-liollandia}, Lath.) ; Blue Heron {A. sacra, Gml.). 



The white heron, or crane as it is generally called locally, 

 is, owing to its conspicuous appearance, the most generally 

 heard-of species. Of late several specimens have been ob- 

 tained ; the last one — a remarkably fine bird — I saw mounted 

 in a window here was obtained at the Wairau Pa by a 

 native. Individuals oftentimes haunt for a considerable time 

 the mud-flats at the junction of the Opawa and Wairau 

 Eivers and their adjacent lagoons, and generally manage to 

 elude capture. My father observed a beautiful specimen some 

 years ago perched on the topmost bough of a weeping- willow 

 overhanging the Wairau Eiver, near the Wairau Pa. The 

 natives all turned out to observe the stranger, one old man 

 indicating a spot some distance up the river where in former 

 days they resorted in numbers. 



Bittern {Ardca po'dloptila, Lath.). 

 Numerous. 



Sandpiper (Limnocinclus aciiuiinatus, Horsf.) ; Godwit 



{Liniosa baueri, Naum.). 



The godwit, known by the local trivial appellation of snipe, 

 and shot and eaten as such, is plentifully distributed along the 

 coast and estuaries of our rivers during its summer sojourn. 



Pied Stilt {Himantopus leucocephakis, Gould) ; Black Stilt 

 {H. novcB-zealaiidue, Gould). 

 Both species occur sparingly, and in localities far apart. 



Knot (Trhuja canutus, L.). 

 Pelorus Sound. 



Southern Woodhen {Ocydronuis australis, Sparrm.). 



A pure-white albmo was captured by a party near the Top- 

 house, on the road to Nelson, and kept alive by its owner as a 

 curiosity for a considerable tune, until it began to assume the 

 ordinary brown colouring, when the owner had it killed and 

 mounted. 



Striped Rail (Ballus jjhilijjpensis, Linn.). 



Now rare and widely distributed. While at Kenepuru at 

 Christmas a young one was captured, and several others were 

 reported from several localities in the same sound. 



