Bush-birds of New Zealand. 521 
April, when the berries of that tree were ripening, and became 
plentiful and very fat by the end of May. Still they were 
never so numerous as I have seen them in previous years 
elsewhere ; and I believe that they were far more abundant 
in the Rakauroa district (some twenty-five miles south-west) 
in May, where, too, they were feeding on the Tawa, but, 
strange to say, were so poor as to be hardly worth shooting. 
It was hoped that they would remain to feed on the Miro 
and Hinau (ripe in June), but unfortunately (for the Pigeon 
and also for the bill-of-fare) the Miro-berries were blown 
off before ripening, and the hinau did not fruit in the locality 
this year; so that Pigeons were scarce after the Tawa was 
over in early June. In July they were low down on the 
Supplejack, but were then in poor condition. 
After the heavy snowfall of July 15th many birds were 
seen flying singly due north, while they practically deserted 
this bush, and what few did remain subsisted on various 
leaves, principally those of the Mako-mako (Aristotelia race- 
mosa). By the end of September it was quite a rare event 
to see or even hear one here*. 
In April I had noticed them feeding on the rape on the 
newly-sown bush-land outside, and this plant seems to be a 
great stand-by for the bird. 
Through lack of food in higher altitudes, the Pigeon is 
often forced to visit the lower country towards the end of 
July, where it feeds on the young and bitter shoots of the 
Kowhai (Sophora tetrapiera). 
2. HyMENOLHMUS MALACQRHYNCHUS. 
Hymenolemus malacorhynchus Buller, B. New Zeal. in. 
pts. xil.—xiil. p. 276, pl. v. (1888). 
The only other native species observed in this bush was the 
Mountain-Duck. A pair of these unsuspicious birds fre- 
quented a rocky pool in heavy bush for a few weeks. They 
are not uncommon in the higher reaches. 
* T have been informed that asurvey-party found numbers of Pigeons 
nesting in the higher and adjacent bush here during the following 
November and Deceniber. 
