164 MUTTON BIRDS 



an extremely handsome bird, with a blue circle 

 round the eye, and gular patch varying from 

 almost orange in the male to yellow in the female. 



The Stewart Island Shag never ventures into 

 waters far distant from the open sea, and 

 becomes more and more rare as the narrowing 

 inlets recede into the heart of the island. 



The Frilled Shag and the White-throated 

 species do not appear to visit the ocean or the 

 open shores of the island, and indeed chiefly 

 frequent the bays of the inlets. 



The Pied Shag, the Frilled Shag, and the 

 White-throated Shag breed in the same com- 

 munities, and by day perch together in the 

 same roosting quarters. In a region so swept 

 by gales as Stewart Island, shelter must be the 

 point chiefly considered in the establishment of 

 a rookery. There must be timber of a suitable 

 sort, with candelabra-like forks, wherein the 

 nests can be safely set. Fishing grounds must 

 not be too far distant ; and finally, there must be 

 deep water close at hand, well provided with 

 snags and rocks whereon the youngsters, fledged 

 but incapable of flight, can clamber, flap, and 

 perch. 



Of the many rookeries visited, the largest was 

 one in the north-west arm of Pater son Inlet. 

 It was excellently sheltered from the prevailing 

 westerly gales. The great ironwood trees, 

 where the nests were built, stretched out, as if 

 for room, far over the water. The inlet was an 

 ample fishing ground, whilst on either side of the 

 nesting trees, was deep water where the flappers 

 could swim and dive. Lastly, there were over- 

 hanging limbs low to the waves, which the 

 youngsters could reach by violent though brief 



