Witson.— Disappearance of the Small Birds of New Zealand. 239 
border of the jaw, lying in a groove in the cerato-mandibular, is closely held 
to the long hyoid horn, and is inserted beneath the omo- and sterno-hyoid. 
The digastricus arises from the posterior border of the mastoid, slopes 
downwards and backwards to be inserted into the posterior angle of the 
mandible. It hides the insertion of the sterno-cleido-mastoid and other 
cervical muscles. It is a very strong muscle opening the mouth. 
The skeleton has been so ably and so exhaustively described by Dr. 
Günther, that any further description would be mere repetition. In a short 
paper at a future date, I hope to describe the arteries, nerves and brain. 
The hyoid bone with its cornua, attachments, and the light it throws on the 
origin of the human auditory ossicles has been fully described by Mivart 
and Huxley. 
Arr. XXIX.— Disappearance of the Small Birds of New Zealand. 
By D. C. Wirsox. 
[Read before the Auckland Institute, 22nd October, 1877.] 
Amonest the many changes which pass almost unnoticed by the majority, 
one much to be deplored goes on around us daily, which promises to deprive 
our forests of one of their chief attractions. I allude to the destruction of 
its smaller feathered inhabitants, amongst which unfortunately are num- 
bered our singing birds. 
In detailing the cause of this destruction it may be well to give a short 
description of the birds which are disappearing, together with some idea of 
eir habits, as also those of their destroyer, the rat. This animal sails in 
ships all over the world, an unwelcome passenger, and makes its way ashore 
on every land. Its first proceeding is to kill and eat the aboriginal rat of 
the country, which it then takes possession of and colonizes. 
The country from which this rat first sprung is supposed to be India or 
Persia. We are accustomed to call it the Norway rat, probably from the 
accidental circumstance of its coming first.from that country to England; 
but the Germans call it the ** wandering rat," and it is said to have made 
its appearance in different European countries almost at the same time. 
The native species was a small black animal, and much prized by the 
natives as an article of diet. Their method of capture was to construct a 
pit wider at the bottom than the top; then strew some roasted hinau berries 
over the floor, and place a log to serve the rats as a ladder. After a night 
or two, when the rats had got accustomed to being fed in this manner, the 
log was removed. The rats, unable to resist the savoury smell of their 
