86 COLLECTOR'S RAMBLES 



Bedstead Gully for Collingwood, where I took the 

 little steamer for Takaka. 



On the wharf the captain introduced me to a Mr. 

 Lewis, who, I understood, knew of places where Moa 

 remains could be found. Mr. Lewis kindly invited me 

 to his house. He had heard of us through the papers, 

 besides being acquainted with the writings of my 

 father. 



We started on foot up the valley, and, as there had 

 been heavy rains, the roads were very muddy ; but I 

 was so interested with the country through which we 

 passed that the walk of ten miles seemed short. 



Great trees, covered from bottom to top with climb- 

 ing vines, grew on each side the road; and tree- 

 ferns, with their graceful, spreading fronds, filled the 

 ravines; while above and beyond all were the moun- 

 tains. Birds were very numerous. The Tuie, or 

 parson bird (Prosthemadera novcezealandice), with his 

 white choker, greeted us from the tree-tops ; Wekas 

 ran across the road ; Kakas (Nestor meridionalis) rattled 

 and squealed in the dense thickets ; Blue Ducks (Hy- 

 menolcemus malacorhynchus) flew up the river, and 

 wild pigeons whistled above us in their rapid flight. 



We passed coal beds of good thickness on the way, 

 and saw fossil shells in the rocks, where a railroad 

 cutting had been made. At last we arrived at our 

 destination, and, after relieving our shoes from their 

 burden of mud, entered the house. Mrs. Lewis was a 



