216 Transactions. — Zoology. 



An seres. 



Anas superciliosa. (Grey-duck ; parera.) 

 Larus clominicanus . (Black-backed gull ; karoro.) 

 Larus scopulinus. (Mackei'el gull ; tarapunga.) 

 Sterna caspia. (Caspian tern ; taranui.) 

 Sterna frontalis. (Sea-swallow ; tara.) 

 Dysporus serrator. (Gannet ; takapu.) 

 Phalacrocorax novce-liollandicB. (Black shag.) 

 Phalacrocorax brevirostris. (White- throated shag.) 



We all know the common hawk, or harrier. One may see 

 one or more at almost any time of the day sailing in majestic 

 spirals over the island or the swamp. Those who frequent the 

 swamp for business or pleasure will have often noticed this 

 bird, a motionless brown figure in the purple salt weed, or 

 waddling awkwardly over it in search of crabs and other 

 small game or the carrion on which he mostly feeds, for in 

 spite of his size and formidable beak and talons he attacks 

 nothing but the dying and defenceless ; and, even in his aerial 

 combats with his fellows, there is little of earnest onset and 

 much peevish squealing and whirling of wings. I have 

 watched him flee like a gawky brahma before a bantam at 

 the whirlwind attack of his fierce little kinsman the sparrow- 

 hawk. The latter I have never seen in Napier, though I have 

 heard old residents speak of seeing him here in the early days. 



Thanks to our dense plantations, we still have that quaint 

 little owl the morepork on the island. Only a short time ago, 

 as I passed the mouth of Coote Road, a round brown form 

 winged noiselessly across opposite the drillshed, and settled 

 in a small tree overhanging the first of the steep lanes 

 that scramble up the sides of the gulch through which the 

 road runs. I followed the bird up, and found a movepork 

 blinking his yellow eyes in the failing light. Two small boys 

 saw him at the same time. I caught a whisper of "Watch 

 him while I get my shanghai," and one of them hurried off up 

 the steep track, so I waited awhile to give the wee owl timely 

 warning of his return. But it was not needed. Before the 

 youngster returned, breathless, " ruru " quietly slipped off 

 again — moth-hunting I expect — down to the Parade and 

 round out of sight into the darkness and quiet of the bluff- 

 face. 



The kingfisher, blight-bird, grey warbler, and ground-lark 

 are all permanent residents here. The tui is only an occa- 

 sional visitant. 



Of the family of the Turdidce, or thrushes, we have no 

 native representative, but rather an excess of enterprising 

 British members of the family — the black-bird and common 

 thrush, to wit. Those of us who know the fascination of 



