^"'lo^/^'J ^IL'AKT-SUTHKKLANI), Birds of Puysei^ur l>uiitt. N ./. . I33 



Birds Observed About the Lighthouse, Puysegur 



Point, Invercargill, N.Z. 



With Mention of Tiiost; Kii.led ]5y Dashing Against the 

 Lighthouse Panes. 



J-5y R. Stuart-Sutherland, R.A.O.U. 



Pi'VSECUK Point is sitiuitt'd at thr soutli-wcstcni conuT of tlic 

 South Island of New Zealand, on the southern point oi Preser- 

 vation Inlet, and is probably, at the present time, the best place 

 in the South Island for observing what remain of the native birds. 



Before coming to this bush-covered, outlandish spot, I had 

 received very glowing accounts from former lighthouse-keepers 

 regarding the bird-life of the place. The day of the Kiwi {Apteryx 

 anstralis), the Roaroa {A. haastii), the Kakapo {Stringops 

 habropliliis), and the Wattled Crow {Glaticopis cincrea) is, however, 

 long past, but much of interest yet remains, although the 

 " peculiars " have ceased to exist. 



The first specimen of that remarkable bird, the White Gallinule 

 (Notornis niantelli)* was said to be obtained within a very short 

 distance of this place. It was suggested that this famous bird 

 was possibly an albino Bald-Coot. 



The major portion of the birds, as is to be expected, comprises 

 those whose habitat is the sea or shore ; but no sea or shore species 

 is at all common, the most plentiful being the land-birds, such as 

 Pigeons, Hawks, and Fantails. 



The native name, if any, follows the specific title. 



Commencing with the sea-birds, I have observed the following : — 



1 . Crested or Thick-billed Penguin, Catarrhactes chrysocome 

 {Eudyptes pachyrhynchus), Tawaki. — Occasional specimens are seen 

 swimming or leaping from the water, but they are not at all numerous. 

 The bird is said to breed in Dusky Sound at the present day, as it 

 was recorded to do thirty years ago by Reischek. The bird is easily 

 distinguished when in the sea l)y reason of its close-set, canary-yeUow 

 eldest. 



2. Blue Penguin i^Iutdyf^lu/a minor). Korora. — Very frequently met 

 with in small Hocks ot ten or a dozen, standing upright on sand-banks 

 or flat rocks in lines like soldiers, as is usual with all Ihc Penguins. 

 This bii'd has one or two rookeries in caves, within a mile or so of the 

 entrance ot.thc Inlet. 



3. The Little Blue or Fairy Penguin {E. iindina), Korora. — Slightly 

 more abundant than the previous species. This bird must be delicate 

 and easily killed, judging by the large numbers of dead ones seen. 



4. Black Oyster-catcher or Redbill (Hcemaiopus fuliginosus), Torea. 

 — Only one pair has been observed, resting on Mackenzie Rock, but 

 large flocks of upwards ol a dozen are often seen flying or heard 

 calling. Rather strange tliat the Pied variety is not seen here. 



* Figured by Gould in his Supplement (Plate 76). Matthews discusses this 

 bird in his " Birds of Australia," pp. 247-255. — Eds. 



