C. Barnby Smith—Notes on New Zealand Birds 83


The Huia is said to be extinct, but I have it on good authority that

the Maoris deny this, and could produce some if a licence were obtained

and they were paid to get the birds. The Maoris are keen observers of

many things, and their opinion in the matter of birds is usually worth

attention.


The Tui, or Parson Bird, is a bird in which the New Zealanders

take special pride, and as soon as birds are mentioned the question is

asked, “ Have you seen or heard the Tui ? ” and then follows a

rhapsody as to its note being much better than the nightingale’s. I

have on several occasions seen these birds, but the excitement their

appearance causes is in itself an indication of their rarity. Bush fires

and bush clearance are doubtless the main causes.


Of small native birds the lovely little Fantails are the most con¬

spicuous—quite fearless and very pretty to watch as they actively

move about the manuka or other bushes. The White-eye, or Zosterops

(which first came over from Australia about seventy years ago), is also

a delightful little bird and fairly common.


I never saw a Parrot in New Zealand. It is quite easy to find any

number of Keas if one goes to the right places. Kakas are rarer—

Kakapos very rare indeed (most New Zealanders seem never to have

even heard of them), whilst the smaller Parrakeets, although by many

believed to be extinct, yet are still to be found, I understand, in out-

of-the-way districts. They are, however, according to my information,

very erratic in their movements. None will be seen in a certain district

for some years ; then they come in considerable numbers quite suddenly,

and as suddenly vanish. Their extinction can, I fear, be only delayed

for a few years.


The good the Government is doing by protecting birds in the way

of reserves, both on the mainland and on certain islands, is worthy of

all praise by aviculturists, and I hope there is no truth in the statement

that stoats have found their way to at least one of the islands and that

the keepers on another of the islands keep cats. At present the

Government are not issuing any licences for export of native birds.

Considering the awful slaughter of birds that is taking place owing to

stoats, bush fires, rabbit poisoning, bush clearance, and other causes,

it seems a pity that a strictly limited number of licences to export are



