AND OTHER BIRDS 7 



An absence of cover and food supply, the sub- 

 division of land, fires and indiscriminate 

 shooting- — what in fact may l)e termed the 

 direct effects of civilisation — must, on the 

 mainland, at no very remote period, almost 

 effect tlie extermination of the lart>er and 

 more conspi<3Uous birds. The smaller and 

 more recluse species will mostly succumb 

 to the more indirect effects of colonisation. 

 Of these there are many, and nearly all 

 inimical to avine life. But, although on the 

 mainland, the results, direct and indirect, of 

 civilisation in New Zealand tend towards the 

 killing out of our indigenous birds, yet I think 

 that in the three great natural sanctuaries which 

 still remain, much can be done. The numl)ers of 

 our birds must diminish with a diminished food 

 supply and a loss of covert. — that is certain. The 

 species themselves may yet ])e saved I believe, 

 without the retention of one acre fit for 

 settlement. 



These sanctuaries are: — Firstly, The West- 

 land National Park; secondly, Stewart 

 Island; thirdly, the islets that lie about 

 our long coast line, and especially the far 

 southern groups. Of these, the Westland 

 National Park — all honour to the Minister who 

 proclaimed it sanctuary — is for all material 

 purposes, the fact requires but to be stated — 

 worthless. It contains only the most noble and 

 varied scenery perhaps in the world; it only 

 affords the most magnificent walking and some of 

 the finest climbing in the Dominion. Stewart 

 Island, the second great natural sanctuary, will 

 be dealt with in the course of the following 

 chapters. It is sufficient noAV to say that, with 



