394 



NATURE 



[February 23, 189; 



quartz-fibre instrument might be devised, and perhaps it 

 might contain its own recording apparatus iii a compact 

 form, so as to make registration a much easier and less 

 cumbrous business than it has been hitherto. 



When so much is unknown it is a mistake to begiri by 

 observing with too great intricacy of detail. The salient 

 features should be first obtained, and then attention 

 directed to the minutiee ; but one of the first things to do 

 is to arrange that every swing in the curve shall mean 

 a swing of atmospheric potential, and not a mere excur- 

 sion of a heavy needle. 



I hope that the energy, skill, and judgment of the 

 various observers in the States, and of Mr. Mendenhall, 

 the author of this valuable report, may be utilised through 

 the resources of the U.S. Government by the inauguration 

 of a fresh series of observations under somewhat different 

 conditions, and without the hamper of any immediately 

 specified practical object. Oliver J. Lodge. 



THE PRESERVATION OF THE NATIVE 

 BIRDS OF NEW ZEALAND. 



IN our issue of September i6 last year (vol. xlvi. 

 p. 502) we printed an excellent memorandum 

 drawn up by Lord Onslow, late Governor of New Zea- 

 land, relating to a proposal for the preservation 

 of the native birds of that colony by setting apart 

 two islands for this purpose, namely. Little Barrier 

 or Hauturn Island in the north, and Resolution Island in 

 the south. As regards the first of these islands, we have 

 lately received a copy of the report by Mr. Henry Wright 

 (addressed to the Hon. John Ballance, Premier of New 

 Zealand) upon the subject. According to Mr. Wright, 

 Hauturn. Island, in the Gulf of Hauraki, which is almost 

 circular in shape, and contains an area of from 9000 to 

 10,000 acres, rising in the middle to an elevation of about 

 2000 feet, is very well adapted for the purpose required. 

 Writing with a thorough knowledge of all the north 

 island, Mr. Wright is able to say that there is no other 

 part of it where the native birds are to be found in anything 

 like such profusion and variety. He gives a list of forty 

 species to be met with within its limits, and mentions as 

 particular varieties the stitch-bird or kotihe {Pogonornis 

 ■cincta) and the large dark kiwi {Apteryx bulleri) as both 

 found there. There are slight difficulties in the way of 

 the project, such as the presence of about a dozen Maoris 

 now Hving on the island, and of a claimant for the tim- 

 ber, which, in the shape of kauri pine (Danimara aus- 

 tralis), is present in large quantities. There are no 

 Weka Rails {Ocydromus) in the island to destroy the 

 birds' eggs ; and there are no bees, which, for some 

 reasons, are considered to be highly inimical to the native 

 birds in New Zealand. The wild pigs, formerly numerous, 

 have been killed out ; and the mutton-bird {CEstrelata 

 gouldi), the young of which were formerly eaten by the 

 pigs, will consequently be able to breed again undis- 

 turbed. Cats unfortunately are very numerous, but Mr. 

 W right proposes to offer at once a reward for their de- 

 struction, which is, of course, of great importance. 



Mr. Wright's report seems quite convincing as to the 

 suitability of Hauturn Island for the object in view, but 

 we regret to hear that some difficulties have arisen in the 

 Parliament of New Zealand as to the appropriation of the 

 funds required for the purpose. 



Lord Onslow, however, is not disposed to let the matter 

 drop, and will, we are sure, be strongly supported by 

 Lord Glasgow, the present Governor of New Zealand, in 

 carrying the matter to a successful issue. The Council of 

 the Zoological Society of London, whose attention has 

 been called to the subject, have passed in its favour 

 the following resolutions, which were communicated to a 

 general meeting of that body on the i6th inst. 



(i) The council of the Society have learnt with great 



NO. T217, VOL. 47] 



satisfaction the steps that were proposed to be taken by 

 the Earl of Onslow, when Governor of New Zealand, 

 and by the Houses of General Assembly for the pre- 

 servation of the native birds of New Zealand, by reserv- 

 ing certain small islands suitable for the purpose, and by 

 affording the birds special protection on these islands. 



(2) The council much regret to hear that difficulties 

 have been encountered in carrying out this plan as regards 

 one of these islands (Little Barrier Island), and trust that 

 the Government of New Zealand may be induced to take 

 the necessary steps to overcome these difficulties and to 

 carry out this excellent scheme in its entirety. 



(3) The council venture to suggest that besides the 

 native birds to be protected in these reserves shelter 

 should also be afforded to the remarkable Saurian, the 

 Tuatera Lizard {Sphenodon punciatus), which is at present 

 restricted to some small islands on the north coast of New 

 Zealand, in the Bay of Plenty. 



These resolutions have been communicated to the pre- 

 sent Governor of New Zealand, and will, we trust, be of 

 some assistance to him in inducing his Ministers to carry 

 this excellent scheme into execution. 



THE EARTHQUAKES IN ZANTE. 



THE following is a list of the shocks of earthquake at 

 Zante, compiled from telegrams published in the 

 Times and Standard :—]'A.n\xdJiy 31, at daybreak, the 

 most destructive earthquake, of which, however, some 

 warning must have been given, if we may judge from the 

 comparatively small loss of life. Other slighter shocks 

 followed during the day. February i, 2 a.m., another 

 severe shock, felt also in Cephalonia. February 2, two 

 more violent shocks, one of which caused some fresh 

 damage. February 3, further shocks, but less frequent 

 and violent. February 5, another violent shock. February 



6, continued shocks of slight intensity, followed by three 

 more severe ones in the afternoon and evening. February 



7, another violent shock in the morning, resulting in but 

 little additional damage. February 8, some slight shocks, 

 February 10, some slight shocks in different districts. 

 February 11, i a.m., a somewhat severe shock, followed 

 by a succession of shocks between 8 and 9 p.m. February 

 12, further shocks in the early morning, soon after mid- 

 night, and again at intervals during the day. February 

 13 or 14, renewed slight shocks, accompanied by loud sub- 

 terranean rumblings. The Athens correspondent of the 

 Times, telegraphing on February 20, says : " The shocks 

 of earthquake continue at Zante, with varying degrees of 

 violence. No serious damage is reported, but those who 

 are compelled to live in the half-ruined or insecure houses 

 are exposed to frequent alarms." It is estimated that the 

 total loss of property due to the shocks may exceed 

 ^600,000. 



According to a telegram in the Times for February 6, 

 the tide in Venice on the evening of February i " ebbed 

 so low as to leave several of the canals without water. 

 The gondola traffic was interrupted at different points, 

 and many ofthose craft were stranded. This phenomenon 

 corresponded with the earthquakes at Zante and Cepha- 

 lonia." A simple calculation will show, however, that 

 this can hardly have been due to the principal shock. 

 The straight line joining Zante and Venice passes almost 

 directly up the Adriatic, and its length is roughly 720 

 miles. Taking the time between daybreak on January 31 

 and the evening of Feb. i at 36 hours, this would give 

 for the sea-wave an average velocity of 20 miles an hour, 

 corresponding to an average depth of about 30 feet, which 

 is considerably less than the actual amount, the mean 

 depth of the Adriatic being no fathoms. 



Earthquakes are frequent in Zante, and sometimes 

 very severe. One of the most destructive shocks, which 

 occurred on October 30, 1840, is described by Ansted in 



