^"'- ^'-l M'Lkax, Bush-Birds of New Zealand. < 



igii J ' ' J 



that what we term " heavy bush " in New Zealand would be 

 called " jungle " in Australia, and that our " scrub " would be 

 classed as " brush." 



For the information of those who may be interested, I may say 

 that the bush is felled, in sections usually of about 150 acres (but 

 may vary from 100 uj) to 500), during the winter. The under- 

 growth of shrubs and vines is first cut, and then all trees under 

 2 feet 6 inches in diameter (in some cases 3 feet) are felled on this. 

 On the first favourable opportunity after the middle of December 

 the bush is fired, and sown, as soon as possible, with a mixture of 

 turnips, rape, grasses, and clovers. Given a good burn and a 

 fair growing season, it is ready for feeding by the middle or end 

 of May, from which time on to the beginning of Septeml)er from 

 four to five sheep to the acre are carried, and can then be turned 

 off fat to the freezing works. With the exception of a little 

 '■' second growth " (which, however, can be checked by cattle), 

 bush country, so far as grazing is concerned, gives little further 

 trouble. 



The heaviest snow-storm which could have occurred for very 

 many years visited the locality on 15th July, igo6, smashing the 

 bush considerably and placing a mantle of 3 feet of snow all over 

 this high country. This, I may say, rather spoilt the chance of 

 obtaining good photographs after that date, as the ground was 

 littered with great birch branches and uprooted trees, vines had gone 

 with their supports to Mother Earth, and the beautiful tree-ferns 

 either had their fronds stripped off or so bent down by the weight 

 of the snow as to present a dilapidated appearance, like a half- 

 closed umbrella. Occasionally snow fell lightly in both years, 

 and the rainfall — much above that of the lower country — was 

 very heavy, especially in 1907. 



A few birds were procured in 1906 for identification. They 

 were forwarded to the British Museum, and kindly identified by 

 Mr. W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, and in these notes I shall follow the 

 order and nomenclature adopted in the article which sub- 

 sequently appeared in The Ibis. Some species were not molested, 

 and in "1907 I did not kill a bird. Only those native species 

 which were actually observed in this Maunga-Haumia country are 

 here recorded under their separate headings. The bulk of the 

 notes were written at the time of observation, but additional ones 

 are added to help explain the position of the different species in 

 this district. 

 Carpophaga novae-zealandise — New Zealand Pigeon. 



Buller, " Birds of New Zealand " (2nd edition), vol. i., p. 229. 



These handsome Pigeons were fairly common in the autumn 

 (April) of each year, when feeding on the purple, laurel-like 

 fruit of the tawa, but were never so numerous as I have noted 

 them in previous years elsewhere. Towards the end of April 

 and in early May they also fed upon the miro {Podocarpits femi- 

 ginea), which at that time was taking the place of the former 

 fruit, and lasted (in 1907) till well into June. In 1906 there was 



