Fulton. — Disappearance of Neto Zealand Birds. 497 



man's satellites, the dog and the weasel. Save only on our 

 sanctuary islands are the birds common, on Stewart Island, 

 Resolution Island, Kapiti, and the Barriers ; but they are 

 practically extinct on the south-east coast of the North Island 

 and the great forests of Tuhoe-land. 



Of our waders, the plovers, dotterels, oyster-catchers, and 

 stilts, moving from district to district, breeding in shingle- 

 beds, eggs protectively coloured, -inhabiting marshes and sea- 

 coast, are brought less into contact with civilisation, and in 

 many localities — especially the great river-beds of Canterbury — 

 are still fairly numerous. On the great inland lakes of Wanaka 

 and Te Anau, and even as near as Waikari and Cargill's Links, 

 the dotterels and plovers are to be found to-day. They are 

 reported as increasing at Sheffield and Waihemo. 



Our herons are very rare. The kotuku, that magnificent 

 bird, so scarce even on the advent of the pakeha that for the 

 Maori to have seen one was evidence of a lifetime, too often 

 mercilessly shot by every observer, his limits are narrowed down 

 to a few spots in Westland. A pair were known at Stewart 

 Island last year ; now only one remains there. Perhaps one 

 or two specimens are still to be seen at Te Anau ; the rest are in 

 museums or private houses. Two years ago one appeared in 

 Pelichet Bay for a few days, and then disappeared. Herons 

 (species not mentioned) are reported from Raglan and Waianiwa. 



The bine heron is almost as rare, and the little bittern is 

 extinct. The bittern is seen now and again where swamps 

 remain, but as these are drained he is bound to disappear. It 

 is pleasing to note that he is still seen at Mongonui, Raglan, 

 Kaikoura, Ramarama, Waiau, Ashburton, Patea, Tautuku, on 

 the Islands of Kapiti, Stewart, and the Barriers, and in the 

 Urewera swamps. He is also recorded at the Bay of Islands. 



Our godwits, migratory, and breeding elsewhere, will always 

 remain with us, but our snipe has gone, save on our outlying 

 islands. 



Our weka, breeding in hollow logs and under fern-trees, or 

 in clumps of Astelia, suffers to a great extent with our kiwi 

 and kakapo. He seems to be weathering the storm in many 

 places, for he is on the increase at Romakoriki, Havelock, 

 Hawke's Bay, Rongotea, Waverley, Albert Land, Carnarvon, 

 Streamlands, and the Maruia Forest. He is reported from 

 many other places to be present, if not on the increase. He is 

 probably too powerful for weasel and stoat, and is getting the 

 best of them. He has found some suitable food, and some better 

 nesting-places. Government protection is undoubtedly assisting 

 him, and so this flightless bird has a better chance than his 

 confreres ; but, as far as can be seen, near us and on the hills 



