68 MUTTON BIRDS 



then living at a considerable height on the forest 

 spurs. Wekas were evenly distributed through- 

 out the country side, and the Fern Bird very 

 plentiful on the valleys. The footprints and 

 borings of Kiwi were visible on the flats to the 

 south of the river, and upwards to the very limits 

 of the scrub, where the open moors began. I 

 believe, however, the birds were most numerous 

 high on the hills. 



Now, in October, all was different; and one 

 of those vertical movements so often noted by 

 me on Tutira had here occurred on a great scale. 

 The birds had deserted the ranges for the lower 

 coast lands, the more migratory species moving 

 to great distances, whilst the less restless breeds 

 had merely dropped to lower levels and sought 

 the valley lands. The Kakas, for instance, left 

 in these upland woods, we might have counted 

 on our fingers. As for the Pigeons, I may say 

 that in the forest itself there were none, though 

 one or two were at intervals to be noticed about 

 the fringes of the bush. 



Except for here and there a lingerer, the Tui 

 and the Bell-bird had gone. The smaller species 

 were also much reduced in numbers. Fantails 

 had become rare birds in these spring woods, 

 whilst only here and there had a pair of Tits 

 remained. The few Warblers noticed were no 

 longer on the tops of the tall trees nor in large 

 numbers, but at their ordinary nesting site level, 

 and few and far between. 



Twice I climbed Table Hill, but failed to find 

 the Robins that in autumn had been on the 

 uppermost edges of the forest. These birds 

 were now spread over the valley. The few 

 Parrakeets visible were about the flat lands, 



