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hastened by the introduction of the European rat ; but I am satisfied that 

 before that time they had become veiy scarce, and indeed I have been told by 

 gentlemen who have lived in the northern part of this Island for upwards of 

 forty years, that they never saw a specimen. 



The Birds of New Zealand have been collected and investigated by Mr. 

 Walter Buller, who has long promised a more extensive work on the subject, 

 than the pamphlet published in the first volume of our Transactions. 



The number of species of land birds is not large in itself, though, as Mr. 

 Buller remarks, the ornithology of these islands does not compare unfavourably 

 in this respect with that of temporate conntries in the Northern hemisphere, 

 but although in regard to number of species it may not be important, our 

 birds present many peculiarities interesting to zoologists. 



We have, for example, the wingless Apteryx (or Kiwi), the present repre- 

 sentative of gigantic races of birds which formerly roamed over our plains and 

 open lands ; the Kakapo, or Ground Parrot, inhabiting excavations in the 

 ground, and strictly nocturnal in its habits. Both of these species are confined 

 to our forest-clad ranges, and the latter has not, so far as I am aware, been 

 found in the North Island. We have also, though now very rare, the beautiful 

 Notornis Mantelli, a lax'ge Rail, the plumage of which is extremely rich and 

 varied in colour. This bird is known to exist in both islands, but whether 

 the species is in each case strictly identical, I am unable to say. Species of the 

 Wood hen (Ocydromus) are found in both islands, and this bird is still 

 abundant, if not actually increasing in the Middle Island. 



Amongst the other land birds more familiar to us are the Kaka or Nestor 

 meridionalis, the Pigeon, the Tui or Parson bird ; and several species of 

 small perching birds found in every wood. Many of the New Zealand 

 perching birds are honey-feeders, and, the great majority are insect-feeders. 

 The Kaka feeds largely upon the honey of the phormium tenax, and upon the 

 flowers of the rata. Of ducks there are sevex-al species, for example, the 

 Paradise duck (more properly speaking a goose), the Grey duck, the Blue 

 or Mountain duck, and some varieties of Teal. The Paradise duck is a 

 remarkably handsome bird, the female differing completely from the male in 

 plumage. 



Of wading birds we have many, amongst others, a magnificent white 

 Crane (Ardea flavirostris), a handsome blue Crane (Ardea matuku), a Bittern 

 (Botaurus poicilopterus), the Pukeko (Porphyrio melanotus),and several smaller 

 birds. The Crane and Bittern are scarce, but the Pukeko is to be found in 

 large numbers in every swamp, and more particularly in those which abut 

 upon cultivations. This bird is indeed more inclined by appetite to cereal 

 grains and plants than to aquatic herbs, and frequents the land more than it 

 does the water. It is handsome and graceful, and active in its movements. 

 It is easily tamed, and mingles readily with ordinary domestic poultry. As 

 these birds are also found in the eastern and southern provinces of Europe, we 

 may accept their presence in this Colony as some indication of the adaptability 

 of our climate to animals, birds, and plants indigenous to mild latitudes. 



Of the poultry tribe, except the Pigeon referred to before, I only know 

 the Quail, a delicious eating bird, which, unfortunately, is rapidly disappearing, 

 but which formerly existed on the plains and in all the river valleys in con- 

 siderable numbers. It has indeed been said that as many as forty brace and 

 upwards sometimes fell to a pair of guns in a single day's shooting. 



Of rapacious birds we have several species. A small Hawk, distinguished 

 like its European congener for its daring ; a large Kite, and two or three 

 species of Owls. These birds kill vast numbers of rats and mice, and thus 

 more than compensate for the loss of a few chickens and ducklings. I was 

 once told by a German settler that his young chickens, etc., were never 



