Haurprox,—0On the District of Okarito, Westland. 389 
diminished in number, though many still ornament the upper waters of the 
lagoon and the river on which they breed, on which river there is also 2 
shaggery (C. brevirostris and carbo). Another very handsome and remark- 
able bird, the crested grebe / Podiceps eristatus) is tolerably plentiful on the 
lagoon and smaller lakes. The Okarito Lagoon has been formed from a 
large bay by the silting up of successive bars of sand and shingle, through 
which the river and streams flowing into it have had to force their way. 
Within the past month a succession of heavy southerly winds raised a huge 
bar of sand and shut up the mouth of the river. The consequence of course 
was that the water rose till a channel was cut through the bar and the 
water liberated. It is six or seven miles from the town of Okarito to the 
head of the lagoon, by a tortuous channel, now winding amongst the mud 
flats, uncovered at low water, and abounding in pipis and cockles, small 
crabs and other animals peculiar to brackish water; and now flowing 
between bushes and shrubs with a channel ten or twelve feet deep, and 
wide enough to have admitted a steamer, the Woodpecker, I think, once 
upon a time. Amongst these bush-covered points and islands are quiet 
nooks in which you may come suddenly upon a flock of black teal ( Fuligula 
nova-zealandia ), or a party of grey ducks will rise with a great commotion, 
increased by the harsh scream of the paradise duck (C. variegata). Iam 
glad to see that the black swan ( C. atrata) is now well established in this 
district; they have increased very rapidly within the last two or three 
years. I have seen as many as fifty, with a lot of young cygnets, in sight 
at one time. Some of them occasionally go down south somewhere, in 
flocks of six or eight, for a few days. Seeking their food on the mud flats at 
low water may be seen pied redbills (H. longirostris), curlews, plovers, dot- 
terels, and the pretty lake gull (Larus bullerij. On going inland tho 
silence of the bush is broken by the peculiar notes of the bell-bird YA. mela- 
nura) and the tui ( Prosthemadera nova-zealandiz), especially where the rata 
shows its crimson flowers, frorn extracting the juices of which, with their 
brush-like tongues, they are often disturbed by the kaka who forsakes the ` 
grub-infested log for the honey of the flower. The demand for feather 
trimmings and kiwi skin muffs has caused the slaughter of a great number 
of birds in this district and further south. Though the poor kiwis have a 
slight respite from their former persecutor, there is another on their track 
with large orders from London houses, and no doubt he will considerably 
reduce their numbers. I must now apologise for the superficial manner in 
which I have run over the subjects I have brought before your notice, and 
I trust when my collections are more complete, that I shall be able to 
present to the Society a list of the plants, etc., found in the neighbourhood, 
and to supplement this paper with further particulars of other objects of 
interest, 
