2 BIRDS OF THE WATER 



On tlie extreme west, and also running 

 north and south, rises the Maungahararu, 

 another and a loftier limestone range. 



Betwixt these two — the mountains on the 

 west and the hills on the east — lies the 

 bulk of the run, lower in elevation and 

 chiefly consisting of valley lands and tilted 

 terraces. 



The whole of this great trough has the 

 rounded contours characteristic of pumaceous 

 country, and has been probably the bed of 

 some vast old world river system or great 

 chain of almost stagnant lakes. 



The limestone range east of the lake at 

 one time grew admirable covert of all sorts, 

 dense fern, high tutu, koromiko, and a con- 

 siderable area of "whitey-wood" bush, 

 kowhai, fuchsia, rama rama, ngaio, kai- 

 whiria, etc., etc., with pines in the richer 

 and damper bottoms, and bird life was then 

 abundant. 



Its value, however, during the last score 

 of years has much depreciated; fires have 

 swept the hill sides, grasses and clovers 

 have become established, and except for the 

 grazing of sheep, large areas have become 



