Wellington Philosophical Society. 441 



3. " Eeceiit Explorations North of Chalky Sound, West 

 Coast of Otago," by A. Eeischek, with map (Plate XXII.). 



An abstract of correspondence was read by Sir James Hector, who 

 explained that Mr. Eeischek, who is a well-known practical naturalist, had, 

 with the assistance of the Government, been landed at Chalky Inlet in 

 January last, and since then had been engaged in exploring the country 

 between Chalky and Dusky Sounds. One of his principal objects was the 

 discovery of further specimens of the interesting and rare bird Notornis. In 

 this he had not been successful, but had obtained several geographical 

 results of considerable interest, such as the discovery of five new lakes, 

 hitherto unmarked on the maps, which he had named Lake Hector, Lake 

 Thomas (after Professor Thomas, of Auckland), Lake Fraser (after the Hon. 

 Captain Fraser), Lake Macarthur, and Lake Birnmer. He had also found 

 about twenty square miles of good grass country, which he reported to be 

 capable of pasturing about 1,600 head of cattle. This constituted a table- 

 land, having an altitude of about 1,400 feet above the sea. The lakes 

 described are in the mountains at the back of this plateau, and communicate 

 with the sea by five deep ravines. Mr. Eeischek had cut tracks in several 

 directions, and for weeks together camped on the plateau and adjacent 

 mountains, collecting geological specimens, and specimens of all the birds 

 met with, of which he encloses a complete list, including forty-seven species. 

 In January and February the weather was exceedingly trying, but for the 

 last three months the weather has been fine, with only occasional storms 

 and showers from the north-west, the prevailing south-easterly weather 

 having been extremely fine and dry. 



The following is a list of the birds collected by Mr. Eeischek : — 



Hieracidea novce-zealandice, rare. Platycercus novce-zealandice. 



Hieracidea ferox, rare. Platycercus auriceps. 



Circus gouldi. Nestor montana. 



Athene novce-zealandice, rare. Eudynamis taitensis. 



Halcyon vagans, very rare. Carpophaga novce-zealandice. 

 Prosthemadera novce-zealandice, rare. Apteryx australis, rare. 



Anthornis melanura, rare. Hcematopus unicolor. 



Zenicus longipes, rare. Ocydromus fuscus. 



Acanthisitta chloris. Casarca variegata. 



Orthonyx ochrocephala. Anas chloris. 



Gerygone flaviventris, rare. Hymenolaimus malacorhynchus, very 

 Certhiparus novce-zealandice. few. 



Petroica macrocephala. Lestris catarractis, very rare. 



Petroica albifrons. Larus dominicanus. 



Turnagra crassirostris, rare. Dysporus serrator, rare. 



Rhijnclura flabellifera. Phalacrocorax brevirostris, rare. 



Rhipidura fuliginosa. Phalacrocorax, similar to varius. 



Glancopis cinerea. Eudyptes pachyrhyncus. 



Creadion carunculatus. Eudyptula minor. 

 Creadion cinereus. 



Stringops habroptilus, alpine variety, 

 rare. 



Foreign Birds. 



Tardus musicus. Vringilla carduelis. 



Tardus merula. Fringilla chloris. 

 Alanda arvensis. 



The attached map of the vicinity (pi. xxii.) shows: (1.) Lake Hector ; 

 (2.) Lake Thomas; (3.) Lake Fraser; (4.) Lake Macarthur; (5.) Lake 

 Eimmer ; (6) and (7.) Lake Esau and Lake Dobson ; (8.) Lake Cassar; 

 (9.) The Three Brothers ; (10.) chain of mountains ; (11.) hut ; (12.) and 

 (13.) tracks. 



