INTRODUCTION, xv 



course of his observations, and that it is better to err on the side of minuteness than of vagueness, 

 because an observer is scarcely competent to determine how far an attendant circumstance, 

 trivial in itself, may afterwards be found to enhance the value of a recorded fact in science when 

 viewed in relation to other facts or observations. It must be borne in mind, however, that we 

 are as yet only imperfectly acquainted with many of the native species, and that probably, in the 

 history of all that are here treated of, new facts or new features of character will hereafter come 

 to light. It is extremely difficult to cultivate an intimate acquaintance with birds that are 

 naturally shy and recluse, and especially so in a thinly peopled country, where they rarely cross 

 the path of man and must be assiduously sought for in bush, swamp, and jungle. While relying 

 generally on my own opportunities for observation, I have not failed to avail myself of the kind 

 assistance of others ; and in the body of the work numerous acknowledgments will be found of 

 information furnished by correspondents in various parts of the country, who, amid the multi- 

 farious duties and engagements of a colonial life, have found time to take notice of the natural 

 objects around them. 



I have considered it necessary to omit the following species, there being no satisfactory 

 proof of their having occurred in New Zealand, viz. : — Halcyon cinnamomina, AntJiochcera 

 carunculata, Gerygone igata, Ehipidura motacilloides, Aplonis zealandicus, A. caledonicus, 

 Ortygometrafluminea, 0. crex, Nesonetta aucklandica, Anous stolidus, Procellaria incerta, P. mollis, 

 Dysjwrus jnscator, Phalacrocorax sulcirostris, and Aptenodytes pemiantii. 



The following supplementary notes, on several of the natural sections, contain all that I deem 

 it at present necessary to add : — 



Fam. Falcomd^e. Since the appearance of Part I. of my work, some further discussion has 

 taken place as to the real distinctness of Hieracidea novas zealandiw and H. brunnea. I see no 

 reason, however, to alter or modify the views I have expressed in my history of the species ; on 

 the contrary, the evidence that has since been adduced is strongly in support of my conclusions. 

 Thus Dr. Haast writes to me (under date of March 10, 1872) : — 



" Concerning the specific distinctness of the Sparrow-Hawk and the Quail-Hawk, I may tell 

 you that on my last journey into the interior I got two of the former (i. e. the small species). 

 They were male and female ; and I secured them at the nest, where they had young ones. The 

 female was a little bigger and lighter than the male bird. Both birds were full-grown, and 

 showed at a glance the impossibility of their ever developing into the large and perfectly distinct 

 Quail-Hawk." 



Since writing my account of Circus gouldi (pp. 12-16), I have found that the Harrier which 

 occurs in Celebes is not Circus gouldi, but the true C. assimilis=jardini. It seems very doubtful 

 whether the species inhabiting New Zealand has ever been met with north of the equator. 



Mr. J. H. Gurney, the well-known authority on Eaptores, has sent me the following inter- 

 esting note : — "The circumstance which you mention at p. 11 of Circus gouldi being called by the 

 natives 'kahu-pango' strikes me as very curious, as C. macroscelis bears the name of 'Papango' 

 in Madagascar and C. maillardi in Reunion (vide Ibis, 1863, p. 338 and note). The fact of the 

 Reunion Harrier being called ' Papango' was also mentioned to me by a resident there." 



I may here mention that, Mr. Gurney having sent to the Norwich Museum for a specimen 



