258 IOWA STUDIES IN NATURAL HISTORY 
wish to go and to assist me in taking, with a few restrictions, 
whatever birds I desired. This was a most generous and gracious 
concession and I found Mr. Hamilton a very enjoyable and skill- 
ful field companion; a large measure of whatever success came to 
me in collecting birds during the two weeks that we spent to- 
gether was due to his efforts. 
Before undertaking any active collecting it was necessary to 
register my shotgun, an Iver Johnson, 410 gauge, No. 85921, 
Fitchburg, Mass., with the police in Auckland. Incidentally I 
may say that this little gun most happily surprised me with its 
excellent shooting qualities. 
After about three weeks in and about Auckland, Mrs. Stoner, 
Mr. Hamilton and I boarded the train for Rotorua, in the heart 
of the thermal district, 170 miles to the southeast. Rotorua, a 
town of some two thousand inhabitants, exclusive of the tourists, 
is principally a summer resort famous for the curative properties 
of its hot springs and mud baths, most of which are under gov- 
ernment supervision. It is one thousand feet above sea level and 
we found the temperature even lower here than at Auckland; the 
lowest record during our stay of four days was 18° F. Some of 
the baths bear peculiar and more or less attractive names; before 
leaving the region I enjoyed a plunge in the ‘‘Duchess’’ bath, 
which at a temperature of 99° F. gave me a most comfortable even 
though fleeting feeling of warmth. 
Immediately upon his arrival at Rotorua the visitor is greeted 
by evidences of thermal and volcanic activity. Strong sulphurous 
fumes are particularly noticeable and from time to time various 
areas toward the outskirts of the town are enshrouded by escap- 
ing steam from the hot springs. All the streets are paved with a 
fine white voleanie ash. The minute particles are very irritating 
to one’s eyes as they are blown about by the winds. 
From Rotorua as a base we made two exceedingly productive 
side trips to collect birds and insects. Through the courtesy of 
Mr. D. W. Morehouse, the Government Fish Agent, who tendered 
the use of his six-cylinder Buick touring car, we were able to visit 
Lake Roto Ehu twenty-three miles northeast of Rotorua. A rough 
and tortuous road led us through the villages of Tikitere and Roto 
Iti to some fine native bush known as Hongi’s Track at the south 
end of Lake Roto Iti. Most of the trees are remu, thickly inter- 
twined with the tough, pliant stems of supple-jack. En route we 
passed boiling springs and hot lakes; several times we stopped to 
