Potts. — New Zealand Birds. 197 



No. A. 65. — Charadrius obscurus, Gml, 

 Red-breasted Plover. 

 About the middle of January the red-breasted plover may be found about 

 the coast. We have seen old and young birds together on the flats at the 

 head of Port Cooper on the 19th of January. They migrate from one part of 

 the country to another, from the coast line to the higher grounds for breeding. 

 They appear around Lake Heron in large numbers, finding their way to the 

 Upper Rangitata flats in August. We have before noticed how this plover 

 affects localities of considerable altitude for breeding, and we have a note of 

 the occurrence of the nest and eggs as late as February on Browning Pass. 



No. ^^. — ^Charadrius bicinctus, Jard. 





Dotterel. 





^OTE. — September 4th, weighed four dotterels. 





Nos. 1 and 2 



2foz. each. 



„ 3 and 4 



2Joz. „ 



!No. B. 65.^Anarhynchus frontalis, Quoy. 

 Crookbill. 

 Little variance is to be found in the weight of the crookbill. September 

 4th weighed eight crookbills. Six weighed 2oz, each, two weighed l|oz. each. 



No. 73. — Ardea alba, Linn. 

 Kotuku. 

 White Crane. 



A description of the habits and nesting of this interesting bird was 

 contributed to the Ibis last year by the writer. 



We have a note of the occurrence of a specimen which has a few black 

 feathers. It is to be hoped that measures may be taken not only to preserve 

 this fine wader from slaughter at all times in the year, but also that its 

 breeding stations may be protected. The destruction of the white heronry on 

 the Waitangituna river would almost exterminate the race over a great 

 extent of country. 



Could our noble kotuku enjoy the advantage of foreign birth, like the pert 

 sparrow or black swan, what columns of print w^ould denounce its destroyer 

 before the virtuous indignation of the public would be appeased. We have 

 recently learnt that one grand heronry, far away to the south in this island, 

 has been utterly destroyed. 



No specimen appears in the different Museums of the Colony of a variety 

 of the white heron with yellow-stained plumes depending from the head. 

 From a reliable source the* writer is aware that a specimen was obtained in the 

 Hakateramea district, South Canterbury. Hearsay evidence has given other 



