Order CORACIIFORMES.] 



[Family CORACIID^. 





EURYSTOMU8 AUSTRALIS. 



(AUSTRALIAN ROLLER.) 



Eurystomus pacificus (Latham), Buller, Birds of New Zealand, vol. L, p. 118. 



Stray examples of this well-known Australian species still continue to be heard of in New 

 Zealand. Mr. Walling Handley, writing to me from Blenheim on December 22nd, says : 

 ''During the month of November a specimen of the Australian Boiler, in perfect plumage, 

 was shot at the "Weld's Hill Station, Awatere, by a station-hand. The bird was first 

 noticed flying with a peculiar uncertain flapping flight over the tussock grasses, in quest of 

 moths, in one of the paddocks adjacent to the station. Its handsome appearance, as seen by 

 the waning light of eventide, and the striking contrast it presented to the sombre brown of 

 the surrounding vegetation, excited attention, and this led to its pursuit and capture. The 

 plumage, &c, corresponds in every particular with the technical description of the species as 

 given in your 'Manual of New Zealand Birds.' " 



I have already recorded several occurrences of this vagrant species on the west coast of the 

 South Island. The following paragraph appeared not long ago in the New Zealand Herald 

 (Auckland) : — 



" Some specimens of the Australian Dollar-bird [the Boiler] have appeared in the Wairoa 

 district, and some of them have been shot out of curiosity. They are entirely insectivorous, 

 as can be seen by a careful observer, and as was proved by a post-mortem examination 

 of one." 



This was in the month of November. It is to be hoped that the species will become a 

 permanent resident with us. It ought certainly to do as well as the Australian Magpie 

 (Gymnorhina tibicen), which has been introduced by the settlers, and is firmly establishing 

 itself in several parts of the country. 



It will be remembered that the first occurrence of this well-known Australian species in 

 New Zealand was recorded by Mr. J. F. Cheeseman, who states (' Trans. N.Z. Inst.,' xiv., p. 265, 

 1882), that a specimen was shot at Te Piku, eight miles north of the Manukau Heads, in the 

 provincial district of Auckland. 



