63 



remnant survive the hard times of the first rough settlement of the country, 

 there is little doubt its usefulness will be proj)ei'ly recognised and a^jpreciated 

 as a farmers' friend. 



We have known a More-pork remain for several weeks in a deep shady 

 gully close to the house ; if disturbed during the daytime it appeared dazed, 

 its flight irregular and awkward, the bird seemingly anxious only for conceal- 

 ment in the gratefixl shelter of the nearest dusky patch of shade it could reach. 

 It is not imfrequently found in barns or sheds, sleeping on the roof; if 

 molested, xising its beak freely on the hands of its captor. A friend of ours 

 captured one by hand whilst it was sitting on a fence in the twilight hour. 



No. 4. — Athene albifacies, Gray, (ejulans, Potts.) 

 Sceloglaicx albifacies, Gould. 

 Wekau. 

 Laughing Jackass. 



However mucL changes in nomenclature are to be deprecated, the sj)ecific 

 name which has been hitherto assigned to the large owl, the Wekau of the 

 Maoris, appears so inappropriate, failing, as it does, to convey anything like a 

 correct impression of the bird's appearance, that we are tempted to offer 

 the above as an amendment, one that is intended to^ express the leading 

 characteristic by which it is best known in the localities which it frequents. 



We have enjoyed oppoi-tunities of observing living examples, of examining 

 freshly killed as well as finely-preserved specimens, but have not yet met with 

 a white-faced bird ; on the other hand, its loud cry, made up of a series of 

 dismal shrieks frequently repeated, waking the tired sleeper with almost a 

 shudder, at once distinguishes the " Laughing Jackass " as one of the 

 peculiarities of the mountain districts. Will these reasons bejield to be of 

 sufiicient weight to justify the proposed alteration of its specific title % Why 

 it should share with one of our petrels and the great Dacelo of Australia the 

 trivial name of " laughing jackass " we know not ; if its cry i-esembles 

 laughter at all, it is the uncontrollable outburst, the convulsive shout of 

 insanity ; we have never been able to trace the faintest approach to mirthful 

 sound in the unearthly yells of this once mysterious night bird — mysterious, 

 because for years unsuccessful attempts had been made to secure a specimen of 

 this dismal visitor, whose fitful presence at eventide was scarcely observed 

 before its form was lost to view in the deepening gloom of approaching night. 

 A sea-bird, one of the Procellaridce, P. Cookii, gives utterance to a very mild 

 version of the Wekau's call, especially before rain it is averred, but the 

 petrel's note is wanting in the intensity of the di'eadfully doleful shrieks to 

 which the owl gives iitterance. (See Captain Hutton's " Notes on the Birds of the 

 Little Barrier Island," Traois.,'Vo\. i., p. 162. ) Mr. W. Newton lately, at the Levels 

 Station, near Timaru, secured a specimen of the Laiighing Jackass whilst engaged 



