Rurraxp.—On the Habits of the New Zealand Grayling. 251 
of the Waimea river. Except where it passed through large swamps in 
the bush it consisted of a series of deep pools and shallow rapids, and was 
everywhere overshadowed either by the forest trees or with flax and Veronica 
bushes. In June I saw the first grayling; they came in shoals, evidently 
intent on making up stream,—a mixed lot of fish, the smallest from six to 
seven inches, the largest about twelve inches in length. A mill-dam a little 
higher up than where I lived prevented their progress for some days, and 
gave me an opportunity of capturing a great many. 
I noticed that both the large and small fish contained roe, and that they 
had a peculiar habit of congregating in the deep water, packing themselves 
close together near the bottom. When disturbed they scattered, but in a 
few minutes again collected on the exact spot from whence they had moved. 
In July or August I saw a few straggling fish, apparently making down 
stream, but I failed to get any at that time. 
On two occasions during autumn I saw grayling in the larger rivers of 
the Waimea, once in the Waiti near its junction with the Waimea, and 
once in an overflow of the latter about two miles from the sea. On both 
occasions the fish were in shoals, but swimming apart, not huddled together 
as in the brook. 
Now turning to the Wairau river (Marlborough), which is in every way 
similar to the Waimea river, except in being larger and draining a much 
less wooded country, I find the grayling here with precisely the same 
habits. From the Onomorutu, a small bush tributary, where, during the 
winter months cart-loads of these fish were formerly taken, I have collected 
information. The appearing and disappearing at the same time of year, 
the crowding together at the bottom of deep shady pools, and the bulk of 
the fish being full of roe, correspond with my own observations in the 
Waimea. From this I think we may safely conclude that in this portion 
of the island the grayling during the winter leaves the large open rivers 
and enters the small sheltered streams for the purpose of spawning. But 
from whence do they come to reach those streams ? From the sea or the 
upper waters of thelarge rivers? From the Maitai river (Nelson) I have 
collected information which I think may answer the question. 
Mr. G. Smith, who resides on the banks of that stream five miles out 
of Nelson informs me that the grayling make their appearance in February, 
always coming up the river in shoals. They remain till the middle or end 
of winter and then entirely disappear. During the last three years they 
have become very scarce, which he attributes to the introduction of the 
trout. Mr. Norgrove, who formerly resided in Nelson, thus writes,—* I 
have taken the grayling in the Maitai, just where the tide breaks into the 
fresh water, in large quantities, and as much as four miles higher up. always 
