Buller. — On some rare Species of New Zealand Birds. 309 



observer Mr. Smith is, and how keen his love of natural history. I have 

 received many letters from him since, all replete with interesting facts, 

 chiefly relating to this species ; and I am also indebted to him for several 

 fine specimens of the bird, together with eggs and a newly-hatched chick : — 

 "February 8, 1882. In compliance with your request I have much 

 pleasure in writing a short account of my experience in trying to breed the 

 Laughing Owl. The drawing of the bird made a great impression on me 

 when I saw it for the first time in the " Birds of New Zealand," and since 

 then I had been searching for over five years, trying to procure a specimen ; 

 but I was never successful until April of last year I succeeded in finding a 

 very handsome one; in June I found another pair, and again in September 

 I found two more. They have been a great source of pleasure and instruc- 

 tion to me. I found the birds in fissures of the limestone rock on this place 

 (Albury), but they are certainly very difficult to find. I first discovered that 

 they were about the rocks by finding several fresh pellets, and being anxious 

 to secure a specimen, I procured long wires and felt in the crevices, but 

 with no good results. I, however, discovered a plan which proved success- 

 ful. I collected a quantity of dry tussock grass and burned it in the 

 crevices, filling them with smoke. After trying a few places, I found the 

 hiding-place of one, and, after starting the grass, I soon heard him sniffling. 

 I withdrew the burning grass, and when the smoke had partly cleared away, 

 he walked quietly out, and I secured him. I obtained four birds by this 

 means. I explained in a former letter how very tame they became in a 

 short while after being captured. I also mentioned their call which varies 

 considerably during the year. When I captured the second pair (male and 

 female) their call for a long time, in waking up in the evening, was, as for- 

 merly stated, precisely the same as two men cooeying to each other from a 

 distance. The voice of the male is much harsher and stronger than the 

 female, and he is also a much larger and stronger bird. During the period 

 of hatching he is very attentive in supplying her with food, as no sooner 

 had the food been put into the large apartment of their house, than he 

 would regularly carry every morsel into the dark recess ; when feeding her 

 she would utter a low peevish twitter and rise off her eggs. I may here cor- 

 rect a mistake which I made in writing to you on a former occasion. I 

 stated that ' The male sits by day, the female by night.' I only saw the 

 male twice on the eggs, and it was at this time I wrote the letter, but I 

 certainly was mistaken, as the female performs most of the duty of hatch- 

 ing. I also ascertained the difference of the sexes by separating them at 

 night until the second egg was laid. The females are much shyer and more 

 timid than the males, as they bide themselves on hearing the least noise. 

 After sitting nine days on her first eggs, the female forsook them, and all 



