Vol. XXII. 

 1922 



] OLI\'ER. IVrrds of Little Barncr Island. 47 



towards the interior into hij^^h manuka forest with coprosma 

 mainly as undergrowth. The guHies near the coast are occupied 

 by rata-tawa forest. Further inland rata-tawa forest still occu- 

 pies the gullies and lower slopes, but the ridges support kauri- 

 beech forest. This latter is of a rather dr}^ type, containing in 

 its lower portion many large manuka trees. All the upper por- 

 tion of the island is covered with a damp, shady forest, in which 

 tawa, tawhero, pukatea, tawari and heketara are the most abund- 

 ant. This forest is characterised by its undergrowth of large- 

 leaved shrubs, such as kanono, j^atete and Melicytus macrophyl- 

 lus, and also by its richness in ferns and mosses. On the south- 

 ern sides of the hills it is always damp and cool. Altogether the 

 forests on Little Barrier Island provide all situations from com- 

 paratively dry ridges to cool, damp gullies. The wealth of filmy 

 ferns, mosses and liverworts on the higher slopes bears evidence 

 that moist conditions obtain there throughout the year. 



In addition to the species of birds listed below, all of which 

 are indigenous, the Brown Kiwi {Apteryx australis), Haast's 

 Kiwi {A. haasti), and the Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) have 

 been transferred to the island, while the following introduced 

 species have made their way o\er from the mainland — Sparrow^s, 

 Thrushes, Blackbirds, Starlings, and Greenfinches. 



Eudyptula minor. Little Blue Penguin. — This bird is fairly com- 

 mon in Hauraki Gulf, and is said to breed round the coast of Little 

 BaiTier Island. Several dead specimens were noticed on the rocks. 



Sula .serrator. Gannet. — Fairly common, but does not breed on 

 Little Barrier Island, preferring small isolated rocks such as Gannet 

 Rock, off Waikeke Island. 



Phalacrocorax carbo. Black Cormorant (Shag). — A visitor only 

 to the island. 



Phalacrocorax (Hypoleucus) varius. Pied Cormorant (Shag). — There 

 is a colony of Pied Shags breeding on the cliffs on the south coast. They 

 build large, untidy nests of sticks in forks of bare and exposed 

 branches of pohotukawa-' trees overhanging the tops of the sea 

 cliffs. The nesting sites continue as headquarters for both young 

 and adult for many months. In March they were seen sitting on the 

 branches together. During the daytime they go short distances fish- 

 ing, or sitting on rocks along the shore, sunning themselves or dry- 

 ing their wings, but they always retuiTi to the nesting places in the 

 evening. The young differ from the adult chiefly in that their colours 

 are not developed, especially the white on the throat and breast, 

 which are always more or less grey. 



Microcarbo melanoleucus. Little Pied (White-throated) Cormor- 

 ant. — Known as a visitor only to Little Barrier Island. 



Pelecanoides urinatrix. Diving Petrel. — Plentiful in Hauraki Gulf. 



Halobaena caerulea. Blue Petrel. — Reischek obtained a specimen 

 on Little Barrier Island.f 



Prion turtur. Fairy Dove Petrel. — Buller has recorded that this 

 species was found breeding in burrows on Little Barrier Island.^ It 

 is common enough in Hauraki Gulf. 



* Metrosideros tomentosa. 

 flredale, Aust. Av. Rec, vol. 2, p. 25. 



