EuTLAND. — On the Habits of the New Zealand Grayling. 251 



of the Waimea river. Except where it passed through large swamps in 

 the bush it consisted of a series of deep pools and shallow rapids, and was 

 everywhere overshadowed either by the forest trees or with flax and Veronica 

 bushes. In June I saw the first grayling ; they came in shoals, evidently 

 intent on making up stream, — a mixed lot of fish, the smallest from six to 

 seven inches, the largest about twelve inches in length. A mill-dam a little 

 higher up than where I lived prevented their progress for some days, and 

 gave me an opportunity of capturing a great many. 



I noticed that both the large and small fish contained roe, and that they 

 had a iDeculiar habit of congregating in the deep water, packing themselves 

 close together near the bottom. When disturbed they scattered, but in a 

 few minutes again collected on the exact spot from whence they had moved. 

 In July or August I saw a few straggling fish, apparently making down 

 stream, but I failed to get any at that time. 



On two occasions during autumn I saw grayling in the larger rivers of 

 the Waimea, once in the Waiti near its junction with the Waimea, and 

 once in an overflow of the latter about two miles from the sea. On both 

 occasions the fish were in shoals, but swimming apart, not huddled together 

 as in the brook. 



Now turning to the Wairau river (Marlborough), which is in every way 

 similar to the Waimea river, except in being larger and draining a much 

 less wooded country, I find the grayling here with precisely the same 

 habits. Prom the Ouomorutu, a small bush tributary, where, during the 

 winter months cart-loads of these fish were formerly taken, I have collected 

 information. The ai)pearing and disappearing at the same time of year, 

 the crowding together at the bottom of deep shady pools, and the bulk of 

 the fish being full of roe, correspond with my own observations in the 

 Waimea. From this I think we may safely conclude that in this portion 

 of the island the grayling during the winter leaves the large ojoen rivers 

 and enters the small sheltered streams for the purpose of spawning. But 

 from whence do they come to reach those streams ? From the sea or the 

 upper waters of the large rivers ? From the Maitai river (Nelson) I have 

 collected information which I think may answer the question. 



Mr. 0. Smith, who resides on the banks of that stream five miles out 

 of Nelson informs me that the grayling make their appearance in February, 

 always coming up the river in shoals. They remain till the middle or end 

 of winter and then entirely disappear. During the last three years they 

 have become very scarce, which he attributes to the introduction of the 

 trout. Mr. Norgrove, who formerly resided in Nelson, thus writes, — " I 

 have taken the grayhng in the Maitai, just where the tide breaks into the 

 fresh water, in large quantities, and as much as four miles higher up. always 



