65 



AT'Owlienua ; another, killed at the Levels Station, as before stated, was 

 presented to tlie Museum by Mr. Donald Maclean. 



Mr. E. Dobson states that the Waimatemate Maoris describe this owl as 

 living in holes in the rocks ; they call it Kakaha ; they say it is as large as a 

 pigeon (Carpophaga Novce Zelandke), with a white breast, that it has a "wide 

 mouth bill," comes out at night only, and flies without noise. 



Dr. Haast says that the owl provisionally named by Mr. Duller, Strix 

 Haastii, is according to his opinion, Athene egidans ; it was captured by his 

 dog amongst the rocky pi-ecipices in a creek near the Lindis Pass, in the 

 Province of Otago ; he also states that one night, in 1861, when camping on 

 the Upper Raugitata, imder Mt. Potts, that jiidging from the noise there must 

 have been many of these birds flying about, that he and his pai-ty were kept 

 awake several hours by their shrieking clamour. 



In May, 1857, while living in a teut on the Upper Ashburton, we were 

 constantly disturbed at night by their doleful yells amongst the rocky moimtain 

 gullies. 



Some of the flnest specimens known are preserved in the Museum at 

 Dunedin. (See " ISI^o. 4, Atliene {Sceloglaux) alhifacies. — ' Wekau' or ' Whekau' 

 of the Natives (specimen belonging to Mr. Clapcott)," in Dr. Hector's " Birds 

 of Otago." Jurors^ Reports, 1865.)''' 



When disturbed on the ground, it has burst foi'th into its weird-like cry 

 immediately after taking wiug. Its robust form, thickly clothed with soft 

 feathers, is admii-ably adapted for encountering the severities of climate to 

 which it must be frequently exposed whilst scouring its wild hunting grounds. 

 Far less arboreal than its smaller congener, it roams over the bleakest tracts 

 of country, in many districts where bush of any extent is rarely to be met 

 with, finding shelter amongst the numerous crevices in the rocks of rugged 

 mountain gullies ; strictly nocturnal in its habits, in pursuit of its prey, it 

 must brave the icy blast of the alpine snow storm at the lowest temperature. 

 The severity of the climate in these elevated regions would scarcely be credited 

 by those who have only known the mildness of the coast line. As may be 

 inferred, the real home of this hardy raptorial is amongst the fastnesses of the 

 Southern Alps, from whence it makes casual excursions, by the numerous river 

 beds, to the lower lying grounds, these occasional visits extending as far as the 

 plains. Although well known from its cry, not many S2)ecimens have been 

 obtained, as fortunately for its preservation it is seen only at eventide or night. 

 From the enormous increase in the numbers of the introduced rodents, the day 

 is probably not far distant when the farmer will be as anxious for the preser- 

 vation of the few groups of vermin killers as for the protection of game birds. 



* Mr. Clapcott's specimen was obtained at Popotunoa, and others have been seen 

 near Waikouaiti, Shag Valley, and other localities near the coast. — Ed. 



K 



