I CQ Bird rreservaiion in New Zealand. F-th '"lan 



disappearing species by a collector, on behalf, it is reported, of 

 the Tring Museum, when about 20 specimens were captured. 



Colonel Legge's communication, written as president of the 

 Biological Section, A.A.A.S., was favourably received, and 

 he has recently received a courteous letter of thanks from the 

 Government of New Zealand for having called attention to the 

 matter, with a copy of the Gazette containing a notice pro- 

 claiming the species as absolutely protected, and instructing the 

 magistrate to use every effort to preserve the Rail in future. 



The only doubt is whether the bird is not already extinct. If 

 so, this will be another lamentable disappearance of a specialized 

 New Zealand form, which is all the more regrettable inasmuch 

 as this Rail formed an interesting link between the New Zealand 

 and Lord Howe Island avifauna, and an interesting testimony 

 to the former land-connection, in past geological times, between 

 the two localities. 



