Drummond. — Birds on Kapiti Island. 31 



Except for the presence of this hird, the avifauna of the island has all 

 the characteristics of the north : that is to say, several small birds are 

 distinguished by white in their plumage, as against the yellow of ihe 

 south. The robin (Miro australis) and the tomtit {Fetrceca toi-toi), for 

 instance, have the northern white breasts, and the presence of the white- 

 head instead of the yellowhead {MoMca ochrocephala) adds another 

 northern characteristic. I should say that the position of the North 

 Island robin on the sanctuary is an exceptionally satisfactory one. I 

 seldom went into the bush without seeing this bird, which displayed all 

 the traits that make it the most charming companion of those who visit 

 New Zealand forests. On some days I spent hours without seeing a 

 whitehead, a fantail, a bell-bird, a tui, a pigeon, or a tomtit, but I seldom 

 went more than a few paces without the pleasure of the company of 

 robins. Although the North Island tomtit is not represented as well as 

 the robin and whitehead, it seems to be present in large numbers. 



There is one peculiarity of bird-life that is noticeable on both the 

 Little Barrier and Kapiti sanctuaries : the English birds and the native 

 birds seem to keep apart. Apparently, there is no attempt on either side 

 to establish relationships of any kind. I do not think that the English 

 birds are in any way to blame for the decrease in the numbers of the 

 native birds. The English birds, as far as I have been able to ascertain, 

 do not interfere with the natives, and the natives take no notice of the 

 intruders. Both have their own domains. I did not see any English bird 

 inside the fringe of the bush, and I saw hardly any native birds in the 

 open, outside of the trees, unless they were hurrying from one part to 

 another. 



One of the most- striking phases of animal life on the island at present is 

 the presence of hundreds of goats. The ancestors of these herds escaped 

 from the whalers in the days of the whaling industry. In some parts of 

 the island the goats are very plentiful. Their tracks are seen all over 

 the hills and up and down the gullies, and there is no doubt that, 

 although they have not interfered m any way with the bird-life, they have 

 had a marked effect upon the vegetation. Sheep have also helped to 

 bring about changes in this direction, and a few cattle have played their 

 part. At the time of my visit there were a few deer on the island. 

 Cats have been reported there, and I saw one opossum in the forests. 

 I do not think that the cats are sufficiently numerous to do any serious 

 injury to the birds. Apart from the cats, the birds have no natural 

 enemies. 



Between 1,200 and 1,300 acres of the island, or more than one-fifth, 

 are held by Maori owners, who use their land as a small sheep-station. 

 Their presence endangers the forests, and also, of course, the birds. 

 They are careless, and through their carelessness a bush-fire may spread 

 from their land on to the Government reserve, and sweep the island from 

 end to end. During my visit, which was in the heat of summer, a fire 

 broke out on the Alaoris' end of the island, but it fortunately stopped 

 just as it reached the Government's boundary. It has been suggested 

 that the Maoris should be offered some inducement to relinquish their 

 rights on the sanctuary, and that the whole island should be re- 

 served. 



I append a list of the native birds I noted. It contains the names of 

 the Auckland Island flightless duck, and parrakeets from the Auckland 

 and Antipodes Islands, liberated by Dr. L. Cockayne at the end of 1907. 

 It also contains the names of a few birds which I did not see, but which 



