THE IBIS. 



No. XIX. JULY 1863. 



XXIV. — Ornithological Notes from the Antipodes. 

 By E. L. Layard. 



In my last communication from Auckland, dated 7th October, 

 1862, I promised to send you some information respecting the 

 land-birds of New Zealand ; but I regret to state that the anticipa- 

 tions which I had been led to form of investigating the zoology of 

 those curious islands have never been fulfilled; I can therefore say 

 but little concerning the land-birds. During my few rambles in 

 the forest, I found a singular dearth of animal life. Perhaps, in 

 the course of two hours' walk, a single Black Robin (the Totoara 

 of Haast *) would perch on the end of a spray close to my face, 

 and peer into my eyes, as if wondering why I was fool enough 

 to come there for specimens. With him would probably appear 

 the Fan-tail Flycatcher, a bold pugnacious little fellow, who 

 would hop on to the walking-stick in my hand, or fight so 

 furiously with a leafy bough, if twirled in his face, as to allow 

 himself to be caught by hand. Once or twice I saw the fine New 

 Zealand Pigeon [Carpojihaga nova-zelandia) ; and once, when 

 galloping along the road to the Waikato, the Kaka {Nestor meri- 

 dionalis) ; but our journeys were always performed at a pace 

 which precluded any chance of collecting. 



I am indebted to a friend, Mr. Webster of Hokianga, on the 

 north-western coast of the Northern Island, for much information 

 and nearly all the birds I obtained ; but his specimens are similar 

 to those which casual observations, snatched as I went along, 

 enabled me to identify on the south-eastern side. The Middle 

 Island I did not visit, much to my disappointment. 

 * See ' Ibis,' 1862, p. 105.— Ed. 



VOL. V. S 



