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TUTIRA 



lost, by the opening up of the land. His range of vision has been 

 greatly lengthened ; probably the increase of surface from which worms 

 can be gathered has more than made up for the partial loss of cicada 



and dragon-fly, both of which are now- 

 adays taken by the minah, and probably 

 also by other acclimatised species. At 

 any rate, the clutches of eggs are as 

 large and the Kingfishers themselves as 

 plentiful as in the 'eighties. Although 

 the type of nesting-site preferred of old, 

 rotten timber, has been destroyed by fire 

 and falling of forest lands, sandbanks of 

 a proper consistency remain in ample 

 quantity along the open reaches of the 

 Waikoau. 



The Morepork (Athene Novce Zea- 

 landice) has conformed to the require- 

 ments of civilisation, has become, indeed, 

 a semi-domesticated bird, one or two pair living permanently in the 

 vicinity of the homestead. Such residenters are attracted, especially 

 during winter-time, by the influx of sparrows, rats, and mice. Indeed, 

 from a merely utilitarian point of view, the Morepork is a useful ally 



Kingfisher. 



Morepork male. 



Female Morepork at nesting-hole. 



