6 Iredale, Bird Life on /he Kermadec Islands. [isf'july 



to Stay. On Macauley Island a Parrakeet also occurs in fair 

 numbers. The specific identity of these two birds is still a 

 matter of uncertainty. Salvadori, working through the Parrots, 

 came across the specimen collected by Magillivray, and upon it 

 founded a species, cyaiiurus. This specimen is marked " Raoul 

 Island," so apparently was collected on either that or Meyer 

 Island. In 1906, in the " Supplement to the Birds of New 

 Zealand," Sir Walter Buller referred the Meyer Island bird to 

 Salvadori's species, but at the same time expressed the opinion 

 that the Macauley Island bird could not be separated from novcB- 

 zealandicE. One of the chief features of cyamirus is its large size, 

 and this is shared by the Macauley Island birds. Consequently 

 more study of longer series is necessary before the matter can 

 be said to be settled. I know nothing of their breeding habits, 

 as I was never on Meyer Island during their breeding season. 

 On Macauley Island two nests were found on 12th November, 

 one with five, the other with two eggs. 



The Long-tailed Cuckoo {Urodynaiiiis taitensis) was met 

 with in every month of the year. Apparently birds are driven 

 to the island when migrating in spring and autumn and 

 remain there. Being semi-nocturnal in habit, they are rarely 

 observed unless first heard. It would seem that little is known 

 of the seasonal changes of plumage this bird undergoes. Sir 

 Walter Buller noted that the Kermadec-killed birds he had 

 handled had reddish-coloured breasts, and was unable to account 

 for this peculiarity. Later he obtained a bird from Stewart 

 Island of similar colouration. I think that a series of birds 

 killed at various dates and places would show the reddish 

 colouration to be a phase of the young state. 



A Harrier {Circus gouldi (?) ) appeared at the end of March and 

 made havoc with the young Wideawakes (Terns). Most of the 

 old birds had left the island, and the young had to shift for them- 

 selves. Though unmolested, this bird was unapproachable, and 

 its specific identity was not established. After the Wideawakes 

 had gone this bird mostly seemed to live upon the young of the 

 Petrel breeding on the surface of the ground on Meyer Island. 

 As April advanced many of these Harriers were observed, some- 

 times as many as half a dozen being noted on the wing at once. 

 As the young of the Meyer Island Petrel flew so did the Harriers 

 decrease, and by the end of August they had disappeared. One 

 was, however, noted at the end of October. 



Upon the lakes in the crater could almost always be seen 

 three or four Ducks. These were identified as Anas superciliosa 

 (Grey or Black Duck). Though noted all the year, no young 

 ones were seen. Sometimes they were seen on the lagoon in the 

 West Bay, and upon being flushed immediately flew over the 

 crater ridge. 



This lagoon was favoured as a living-place by numbers of the 



