^^'i^"""] Stray Feathers. 153 



Occurrence of Coot in New Zealand. — In the Hon. G. M. 



Tlioiuxin's exceediii.uly \alual)le hook, "Tlie Naturalisation of 

 Animals and J'lanls in Xew Zealand," recently ituhlished, men- 

 tion is made of two specimens of the Coot (Fiilica atra) being 

 obtained in 1919 in the southern portion of the South Island. 

 ( )ne \\ as taken in May at Kaitangata, Otago, and the other in 

 July at Mataura Island, Southland. Sir Walter Ruller reported 

 a specimen in julv. 1889, from Lake W'aihoia, Otago. — Robt. 

 H. D. Stidoi.im'i, R.A.O.U., Masterton, X.Z. 



Royal Spoonbill in New Zealand. — A Royal Spoonbill ( I'lat- 

 alca rci/ia), identified by a descr!])tion sent by Mr. \V. Leith, of 

 i\Iartinl)orough, to the Dominicjn Museum authorities at Welling- 

 ton, was recently observed on the Ruamahunga River, near 

 ]\Iartinborough, \\'ellington. An effort was made to protect the 

 bird, but it eventually was shot, a fate that awaits all strange 

 birds. This species has been recorded in New Zealand on but 

 three previous occasions — viz., 1875, movtth of Manavvatu River, 

 Wellington; 1892, Buller River, Nelson; and 1905, Greytown, 

 Wellington. According to the Rev. H. W. Williams, M.A., the 

 IMaoris knew this bird by the name of kotuku-ngutupapa, a fact 

 which shows that the bird was not imknown to them. — Robt. H. 

 D. STiDOLPir, Masterton. N.Z. 23/6/1922. 



Numbers of our common House Swallows (///runafo neoxeno\ 

 stay all through the winter, and camp on the beams of Dunlop's 

 Building over the canal at Dight's Falls, Abbotsford. In the win- 

 ter of 1919 we used to have thirteen birds come in to roost ever}" 

 night. In 1920 only six birds stayed there. In 1921 some 20 

 to 30 Swallows camped with us. This year, the autumn being so 

 mild, I noticed numbers of birds going under of an evening. 1 

 counted one night 59; next, 65; and following night (26/6/22), 

 70 birds went to roost by half-past 5 p.m. Unfortunately for 

 them, the fireman went down to pump platform under the floor- 

 ing with a light before daylight. This disturbed the poor little 

 fellows, and they flew about, even resting on the man's hand. One 



1 saw drowned in the morning. This so scared the birds that 

 only two came to the old roost next night. \\'e have only got as 

 high as 25 now (1/8/22). It was very interesting to watch them 

 coming in. Just after the 5 o'clock whistle blew, a flock of 20 to 

 30 birds would come up over building and under to roost, and 

 then single birds, and up to five kept coming till near dark. I 

 went down, and had a look, and saw that they rested side by side 

 close together on the three narrow cross-pieces. On 1/8/22 

 seven birds came in during the rain and thunder-storm betweeii 



2 and 3 p.m., and shelterecl on their roosts. Later (2/8/22) 27 

 birds on the roosts this morning onlv. — H. W. Ford, R.A.O.U. 



