59 



the genus Lycosa, and it is so well known that the bite of the great majority 

 of sisiclers is innocuous, that one feels inclined to doubt whether all these 

 accounts of poisonous spidei's are not greatly exaggerated ; still, considering 

 the independent sources of our knowledge, we cannot but conclude that many 

 members of the genus Latrodectus are highly venomous. 



In conclusion I may say, that it is very desirable that all cases of bites of 

 supposed poisonous spiders should be carefully recorded, but only by eye 

 witnesses. I shall be very glad to receive specimens to experiment with. 



Art. XI. — On the Birds of New Zealand. By T. H. Potts. 



(part II.)* 



("With Illustrations.) 



IBead before the Wellington Philosophical Society, June 25, September 17, and October 22; 

 and before the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, September ", 1870.] 



The following additional Notes on some of our Birds are offered with a full 

 sense of their want of completeness, which will be felt by those whose habits 

 lead them to gaze on the face of nature. As a record of facts, they have been 

 written at different times and places, for the most part amongst the birds 

 themselves when the leisure hour j)ermitted, in the cultivated garden, 

 beneath the deep shadows of the leafy gully, on the wide expanse of the brown 

 tussock-clad plain, by the rocky coast, or in the gloomy alpine valley. 



It is yet possible to reach some secluded spots where the hanging branches 

 of the virgin forests exhibit lovely forms and hues of glorious foliage in all their 

 pristine beauty, still unscathed by fire or bushman's axe ; where birds still 

 flutter and carol through i evolving seasons of a golden age ; where the 

 murderous guns, the stealthy cat, are alike unknown ; where the bold confident 

 curiosity of the birds surprises the human trespasser, and teaches him, in the 

 plainest language, the story of the changes effected by the savage barbarity of 

 man. 



It is felt that some of the papers may be thought long and tedious ; but 

 in explanation, it may be stated that I have since last year met with Gray's 

 List of the Birds of Neio Zealand and the Adjacent Islands, and Mr. Gould's 

 Handbook to the Birds of Australia, and thought it desirable to comply as far 

 as possible with a wish expressed in the latter work, and make the notes on the 

 genera Athene, Nestor, etc., rather full. In the illustrations it will be observed 

 that the majority of the nests figured are those of indigenous species ; such a 

 selection, it was thought, would be interesting. 



* For Part I., see Trans. N. Z. Inst., Vol. II., Art. VIII., p. 40. 



