J A M'L^LAN, Bttsh-Birds of Neiv Zea/and. Tisf'Tily 



have wordy quarrels ; and one moonlight night I went out to 

 see what all the noise could be about. Then two Moreporks were 

 seen in wordy warfare. No blows were struck, but the language 

 of each was quite sufficient, and it ended in one bird, who had 

 been followed from tree to tree, leaving the locality. 



They were very persistent in their watch for prey, and have 

 been noticed, on one or two occasions, still watching intently 

 about the scrap-heap when we rose at daybreak, and this when 

 the ground was white with frost. Any bird late like these 

 was pretty sure to have to put up with some annoyance from 

 the Whiteheads, who were very quick in finding an Owl in day- 

 light. Normally these Owls can hardly have to put up with 

 so much indignity as was witnessed here ; and they were de- 

 morahzed by the felling of their trees and the frequent mobbings 

 by Whiteheads. The system of felling often resulted in a long, 

 narrow strip of bush remaining from the day's work amid sur- 

 rounding felled timber. Many Moreporks took up their quarters 

 in such strips ; and on the following day, when the strip would 

 be felled right out, they were much in evidence. They only flew 

 a chain or so up the face as each was disturbed, and, as the axes 

 reached the top, as many as six or seven have been seen, as the 

 last trees fell, scattering away into the felled timber below. 



Proportionate to the security afforded by the protective and 

 ornamental plantations of the settled parts, the Morepork is 

 common ; and it has been known to nest in thick belts of Finns 

 insignis, where the nests were made on the mass of fallen needles 

 lodged in the forks, and sheltered by a dense growth overhead. 

 There they take the eggs and young of the smaller birds, some- 

 times the bird itself : but here it is not the native that suffers, 

 but chiefly Sparrows, Thrushes, and Blackbirds. 



It is to be hoped that the Little Owls {A. noctura) which have 

 lately been liberated in the Dominion will remain about the farms 

 and help to keep in check the imported birds. Those who 

 advocated their importation believe that they wiU do so. In 

 Northern Europe, their native home, they are stated to be birds 

 of the forest in summer, visiting the farms in winter. 

 Cyanorhamphus auriceps— Yellow-fronted Parrakeet. 



BuUer, " Birds of New Zealand " (2nd edition), p. 142. 



The Yellow-fronted Parrakeet, in smaU parties of from 5 to 12 

 individuals, and often associated with the Whiteheads, was 

 fairly plentiful in this bush. In the autumn and winter they 

 were more numerous about the birch country, where the seed-pods 

 of the tawari afforded abundant food, and where, at from 2,600 

 to 3,000 feet, they nested and reared their young. 



It was expected that the Red-fronted species (C. hovcb- 

 zealandice) would occur in this part, but it was never met with. 

 Many Parrakeets were shot in winter by the natives. These, and 

 others obtained, were all of the present species. This is strange, 

 as the former is the common species of the middle and southern 

 portions of this island. As the Saddleback [Crcadion caruncu- 



