THE ZooLoGIst—J UNE, 1875. 4477 
of five inches: it seems to be quite deprived of the organs of 
vision, there being no appearance whatever of eyes, even when the 
animal is skinned. We have often been interested in watching the 
rapidity with which it would bury itself in the earth, even when 
placed upon hard ground. The natives, who use a quantity of 
animal substances as medicine, consider the flesh of this mole as a 
valuable addition to their stock. There are two other species of 
mole found in Natal, but we know very little about them. 
R. B. & J. D. S. Woopwarp. 
(Io be continued.) 
On the Birds of New Zealand. By T. H. Ports, F.L.S. 
(Continued from Zool. 8. 8. 4413.) 
More-pork (Athene Nove-Zealandiz, Gmel.).—Some instances 
have been noticed where this useful bird has at intervals taken up 
its abode amidst men’s dwellings. During the past two years the 
parsonage garden at Kaiapoi has afforded shelter to this industrious 
mouse-catcher: in another place a small niche in an outhouse was 
tenanted by a more-pork. Here, beneath the verandahs, we have 
known it prey on the moths that have been fluttering on the outside 
of the windows, attracted by the strong light within doors. We 
have the egg from the Westland Bush, taken from a hole in a tree; 
it is white, smooth, of a rounded rather than oval shape, measuring 
through the axis one inch and nearly six lines, with a breadth of 
one inch three lines. The weight of a more-pork is about five 
ounces and a quarter. It should be stated that castings described 
by Dr. Buller, in his ‘ History’ (p. 20), as those of the owl, are 
castings of the kingfisher (Zalcyon vagans), which were collected 
by the writer in Governor Bay, and placed by him in the Museum. 
Near the Ohungua river nests have been found with two and three 
eggs therein. 
Huia (Neomorpha Gouldi, Gray).—Mr. J. D. Enys has been 
kind enough to forward some notes taken during a visit to Akitio. 
Two specimens obtained July 3, 1873, weighed—male 353 grains ; 
female 306 grains. Three specimens, killed September 9th :— 
Total length. y meet ire Bill. 
No. 1, male te 18 inches. 175 inches. 2°19 inches. 
me, 2, ,, Bare 195 ,, 19, 
Female ... ave 19°75 ,, RO! ©, eo ne 
SECOND SERIZS—VOL. x. QE 
