114 Transactions. — ZooLoyy. 



The birds that most need preservation may be included 

 under the following heads : — 



1. Eare birds, and those that are decreasing rapidly: e.q., 

 No. 4, Wbekau ; 32-3, Thrushes ; 42, Kakapo ; 54-7, Kiwis ; 

 93, Water Crake ; 95, Takahe ; 102, Shoveller Duck. 



2. Birds of local habitat, and those of irregular distribution : 

 e.g., Nos. 37-8, Kokako ; 41, Huia ; and those peculiar to the 

 Auckland and Chatham Islands. 



3. Birds that are incapable of flight, or whose flight is 

 feeble : e.g., No. 40, Saddle-back ; 85-8, Weka ; 100, Brown 

 Duck ; 104, Scaup. 



As may be seen, these divisions run into one another, and 

 include almost all the peculiar species enumerated here. 



I have included the Kea, as I think it would be possible to 

 preserve it in certain islands, such as the Aucklands, where it 

 would be harmless, and useful to man. The Kaka, Pigeon, 

 Paradise Duck, Brown Duck, Shoveller, Blue Duck, and Scaup, 

 being peculiar to New Zealand, and also valuable game birds, 

 merit preservation, even though abundant. 



The thirty-six peculiar species of birds named in the above 

 list are, of those enumerated in the " Handbook of the Birds of 

 New Zealand, 1882," all that I believe it to be at once prac- 

 ticable and desirable to preserve in island reserves. I should 

 have omitted the birds peculiar to the Auckland Islands, as 

 being, from the nature of their habitat, in no danger of extinc- 

 tion, had I been certain that these islands are uninhabited, or 

 likely to remain so. I omit the native Quail, as being probably 

 extinct ; but even if it still survives, the time and money that 

 might be spent on it would be better employed in procuring 

 specimens of the Takahe and other peculiarly New Zealand forms. 



On the necessity of immediate and effectual measures for 

 the preservation of all rare ground birds, such as the Kiwis 

 and Kakapo, I needly hardly remark ; but two species, the 

 Takahe (Notornis), and Tarepo (Cnemiomis), deserve particular 

 notice. The Takahe measures 25 inches in length, the Tarepo, 

 at least 5 feet in height ; so that they are well worth preserving 

 from any point of view. Generally speaking, experience proves 

 that no one will refrain from killing any rare or strange bird, 

 unless it can be made more to their interest to do so. As, with 

 very few exceptions, rare birds, such as these, are always killed 

 by the bird-hunters, miners, and others living in the back 

 country, who alone have opportunities to obtain them, I would 

 submit the following (especially to prevent their destruction), as 

 being the only effectual means for obtaining live specimens of 

 these and other rare birds : — a premium sliould be offered, in 

 addition to whatever other means may be employed, for all spe- 

 cimens that can be procured of the rarer birds, especially of the 

 wingless ones, payable only on the reception of the birds olive and 



