BuLLEK. — On the Ornithology of New Zealand. 21 



As I have remarked before, this species appears to be 

 steadily increasing, notwithstanding the numbers that are 

 annually, and, as I think, very unwisely, destroyed by sheep- 

 farmers. One reason for this, no doubt, is that they are not 

 preyed upon by the introduced pests. On the contrary, they 

 do not hesitate to attack stoats and ferrets when they have 

 the chance. Judge Gill told me of a combat which he wit- 

 nessed between a Harrier and a stoat, in which the latter was 

 eventually killed, although the Hawk found it too heavy to 

 carry away with him. 



In its progress towards maturity the Harrier passes through 

 several phases of plumage, and is sometimes very beautifully 

 marked. At Papaitonga I shot an adult male which was 

 molesting my Teneriffe Quail. It was in excellent plumage, 

 with a very distinct white frill on the lower part of the throat, 

 and having the under-parts of the body tawny-white, stained 

 with fulvous, and marked with broad longitudinal streaks of 

 dark-brown, presenting the appearance of a buzzard on the 

 under-surface ; lining of the wings white, with narrow longi- 

 tudinal streaks of brown ; the axillary plumes pure white, 

 with broad transverse bars of rich umber-brown ; and the 

 superior under wing-coverts crossed by numerous arrow-head 

 patches of the same ; the inner webs of the quills pale cream- 

 colour ; and the upper wing-coverts marked with a spot of 

 rufous, more or less distinct, near the tip. Irides pale-yellow, 

 and of sparkling brilliancy ; legs rich leinon-yellow, brightest 

 on the toes ; claws black. 



I have noticed that this species hovers and hunts in the 

 rain, without any inconvenience, occasionally shaking its wet 

 plumage. 



Carpopliaga novse-zealandise, Gmelin. (New Zealand 



Pigeon.) 



To the numerous varieties of this species already described 

 I have now to add another, recently procured through Mr. 

 Jacobs, of this city. General plumage delicate cream-colour; 

 under-surface pure white, the line of demarcation on the 

 breast being quite distinct ; nape, shoulders, interscapulars, 

 and small wing-coverts rich chocolate-brown, forming a very 

 conspicuous mantle ; bill and feet carmine. 



A Maori at Otaki had a tame bird of this species in his 

 possession for many months. It had the freedom of a large 

 hut, where I saw it, and would perch on the hand or shoulder 

 in the most confiding manner. In the end it was killed by 

 one of those mongrel curs that infest every native village. I 

 also had one confined in an aviary for some months, intending 

 to forward it to the Zoological Society of London ; but, unfor- 

 tunately, some children, taking compassion on the bird's soli- 



