Letters, Extracts^ and Notes. 385 



stunted white tussock and remain there until I was quite close 

 to her. Judge of my surprise to find that her stoppage had 

 been at a Ground Lark^s [Anthus nova-zealandicE) nest 

 containing eggs. Three days later I was fishing on the 

 same ground and the Dotterel again went through the same 

 performance. This was the most cunning act that I have 

 ever heard of in any of the feathered trihe.'^ 



I may say that the observers in all three instances are 

 well known to me personally and are thoroughly reliable 

 men, 



I have done what I can to work out the parasitic problem, 

 and have, I think, made some steps towards the elucidation 

 of it. I have fairly well exhausted the subject of our Long- 

 tailed Cuckoo, and am now engaged on a similar collective 

 investigation on the Bronze Cuckoo. 



Hoping you may make some use of these notes on our 

 interesting birds, which are fast disappearing from among us, 



I am. Sirs, yours &c., 



Robert Fulton, M.D. 



Dunedin, N.Z., 



October 29th, 1908. 



Sirs, — You have done me the honour of reviewing my 

 ' History of the International Convention of 1902 ' in your 

 valuable periodical, for Avhich I am very grateful. But I must 

 regret that in all English reviews, and so in the present case 

 in ' The Ibis,^ there occurs some misunderstanding. The Con- 

 vention never meant to force upon anybody " new methods," 

 as rules §§ 1 and 9 admit of exceptions, in consequence 

 of which every adhering State is allowed to draw up its lists 

 [schedules) entirely in conformity with its own considerations. 



The chief object of the Convention is the protection of 

 migrant birds, which, after they have left their homes, are 

 exposed in the south (Italy) to the severest persecution and 

 even extermination. 



This evil can only he remedied by international regulations. 

 The English List of Birds comprises also a number of 



