4 BIRDS OF NEW ZEALAND. 



a decree and a tiat, coming from a quarter which none can resist. A hand is 

 writing upon the wall ; surely he that runs may read. On that day in 1642 

 when Abel Jansen Tasman cast his anchor into the sea off their shores, 

 down went the Maoris ; soon will they join the woolly-haired Tasmanians, 

 whose last man only died in 1869. This they know. Shortly will the family 

 of the Apterygidas follow Nestor productus of Philips Island, Alca impennis 

 (the Gare Fowl of the north), and a host of others. Little did Bullock, 

 when he chased the latter in the sounds of Papa Westra, dream of what he 

 was doing. Less did he suspect that he was then only a blind instrument for 

 a purposive object in working out a law — in the case of the Gare Fowl, since, 

 alas ! too well fulfilled. These departing species flutter round civilization 

 Uke moths at a candle, or hawks over the flames at the battle of Amoaful. 



The Apteryx conveys to one's mind something peculiarly mysterious ; 

 and though not yet extinct, it seems as if it ought to be. It has lingered on 

 in a world where its place is gone. It has no business here ; it lags behind. 

 Dinornis went before ; and had Apteryx been a trifle larger, it would long 

 since have been a thing of the past. In confirmation, if any such is required, 

 of how a smaller species can survive while a larger succumbs, I can quote a 

 fact, coming under my own observation in May 1869, on which I sent a note 

 to the ' Field,' w^hich appeared on June 5. Many Swifts (^Cypselus mi(rarius) 

 flew about Brighton in a very w^eak state, and were taken in numbers. 

 Among them I saw a few Martins (^Hirimdo urbica), which appeared lively 

 enouo-h. How was this ? There had been severe and unusual cold, with 

 heavy rains for some days — a kind of glacial period. The insects in the lofty 

 reo;ions where Swifts dehght to dwell could not exist ; those nearer the 

 earth's surface, finding more warmth, were out and about. Consequently 



kinds, many of them ornithic, extinct and recent. This paper (which, by his kindness, I have now 

 hefore me) contains subjects of much interest. I can only here mention that 2797 objects were 

 discovered; among them, many line Moa-bones and those of "the large Kiwi or Roa {Ajjteryx 

 australis) " prove that " these birds inhabited the peninsida and its neighbourhood, from which they 

 have now disappeai'ed a long time." 



m\ 



