Vol. IX. 



J From Magazines, &c. 257 



{Liinosa novce-zealandice)* which he considers to be the " greatest 

 migrant in the world." It is beh'eved that the Godwit breeds in 

 Eastern Siberia and migrates to New Zealand, returning again 

 to its breeding grounds in the north. Mr. Drummond is 

 endeavouring to obtain fuller information and reliable data, and 

 has communicated with scientific men in Russia, China, Japan, 

 Formosa, and other countries along the route which the Godwit 

 is believed to follow. Meanwhile, a mass of valuable informa- 

 tion has been obtained in New Zealand. From Mr. R. H. 

 Matthews, of Kaitaia, north of Auckland, Mr. Drummond has 

 received some notes. The following is from Tlie Lyttelton Times 

 article mentioned above : — 



" He (Mr. Matthews) says the small flocks of Godwits arrive 

 at Kaitaia early in September, and in December they are repre- 

 sented by many thousands. They leave on their outward bound 

 voyages during March and April. According to the Maoris 

 most of the flocks take their departure from Muri Motu, near 

 the North Cape. This, apparently, gave rise to a belief held by 

 many naturalists until last year that the Godwits, v/hen they 

 decided to start out over the ocean^ gathered together in 

 countless numbers from all parts of New Zealand at Spirits 

 Bay, close to the North Cape, the same place from which, 

 according to Maori legends, the spirits of the dead took their 

 departure to the other world, below the ocean. There is no 

 doubt that Spirits Bay is one of the places of departure. But 

 Godwits also depart from other places in the far north of New 

 Zealand. An old Moari once told Mr. Mathews that he saw 

 a large flock of Godwits taking their departure from Ran- 

 gaunu, a large bay on the east coast of the northern part of 

 the Auckland province. The flock wheeled and circled, 

 rising higher and higher in the air, until it was nearly out 

 of sight. The members then formed up and darted away 

 in a north-westerly direction. Mr. E. Matthews, who lives 

 at Awanui, at the end of the bay, informed Mr. R. H. 

 Matthews that on one occasion at the end of March, 

 about thirty years ago, while he was riding along the beach 

 towards Waikarikari, west of Puheke, at mid-day, he noticed an 

 unusual appearance. It was a dark patch above high-water 

 mark, and it extended up the slopes of the front line of sand 

 dunes. When he got within easy gun range he saw that it was 

 an immense flock of Godwits, all fast asleep, with the exception 

 of a few which apparently acted as sentinels. Rangaunu 

 harbour, with its wide expanse of sand and mud banks, and its 

 numerous creeks, intersecting and extending far up the extensive 

 mangrove flats, is an ideal feeding and fattening ground. The 

 Godwits pass up and down the harbour with remarkable 



* This Godwit has been observed in favourable localilies throughout Austraha and 

 Tasmania and as far south as Campbell Island. — Eds. 



