Smith. — On the Saddlehacl- of New Zealand. 167 



dozen, accompanied by two fantails, passed through the native bush in 

 my garden. I was surprised and pleased to see them, for I had not noticed 

 them for many yeifrs previously. I have seen them all over the North 

 Island, but never of late years. Alas ! I fear we may quote the old Maori 

 proverb in reference to them : Kua ngaro i te ngaro o te moa (They are 

 lost, like the disappearance of the moa)." 



It will be noted that Mr. Percy Smith explains the presence of the 

 saddleback with the whiteheads as guardians to the flock. When closely 

 observing the saddlebacks following the large troop of yellowheads in the 

 Westland forest twenty-two years ago I noted that the former fed eagerly 

 in the trail of the latter in passing slowly on their course. When after- 

 wards describing their associated movements* I raised the theory that 

 the chief object of the tieke in following the yellowheads through the bush 

 was to feed on the larger insects which the latter disturbed and rejected. 

 Apart from the economic importance or otherwise of the remarkable asso- 

 ciation of these two species, it was to me a magnificent and charming 

 pageant of birds. The last large flight of tataekos, or yellowheads, I 

 observed occurred in March, 1905, in the native beech forest at Sylvan 

 Lake, on the Dart River, flowing into Lake Wakatipu, in Central Otago. 

 Though beautiful their plumage and musical their concerted ringing notes, 

 their charming associates of former days — the tiekes — were absent. 



The disappearance or migratory movements from certain districts of 

 some species of native birds, and their return to those districts after years 

 of absence, is due to the fluctuations of supply of their natural and neces- 

 sary food. The three last mild and fruitful seasons of the native flora 

 have been and are highly favourable to the well-being of the native birds. 

 Many species have bred successfully and multiplied in the larger forest- 

 areas in Taranaki. A continuance of such seasons, which are almost in- 

 variably followed by others less fruitful or impoverished, is, no doubt, the 

 cause of the migratory changes of the native birds from districts far apart 

 from each other. 



But apart from these phases of the saddleback's history, it is of great 

 interest to note that, notwithstanding the long lapse of time since the 

 separation of the North and South Islands, during the Pliocene period, the 

 method or habit of the saddleback in following the yellowheads in the 

 South Island forests should likewise continue with its white-headed con- 

 gener in those of the North Island. Though these two forms are now given 

 specific rank, it is probable that the yellowhead has evolved its slightly 

 larger form and yellow coloration in a greater degree in the South Island 

 than the whitehead has developed its typical white coloration in the North 

 Island. That both species have been evolved from the same form or stock 

 having much plainer colours there c6uld be no doubt. But, whilst these 

 two beautiful species of native birds have evolved their divergent typical 

 coloration, the saddleback has apparently undergone no material change 

 in its form and typical colours in either Island during their long separation. 



In the supplementary edition of the " History of the Birds of New 

 Zealand " Sir Walter Buller states that the saddleback is now extinct in 

 the North Island. For several years the like was also said of the white- 

 head. When traveUing over nearly the whole of the North Island a few 

 years ago I made numerous inquiries from the Natives wherever I went 



" Birds of Lake Brunner District " (Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 21, p. 205, 1889). 



