130 BIRDS 



Australian Land Rail {Hypotcenidia philippinensis) 



The Otago Society introduced a pair of them in 1867; but there 

 is no further record of them. 



Order CHARADRIIFORMES 

 Family Charadriid^ 

 Golden Plover (Charadrius pluvialis) 

 In 1875 R. Bills brought out some of these birds for the Canterbury 

 Society, and they were apparently among the birds sold and dis- 

 tributed. There is no further mention of them. 



The Wellington Society introduced four in 1877, but there is no 

 further record of them. 



The Otago Society made an attempt to introduce the species in 

 1897. Out of 22 birds originally caught, only five reached the ship's 

 side at London. Two were landed at Dunedin and were liberated 

 at Clifton, but at once disappeared. 

 Seebohm says of this species that 



it breeds in the north temperate and Arctic regions, including the British 

 Islands. Some remain in South Europe to winter, but the majority appear 

 to pass on to North Africa, a few migrating during the winter season as 

 far as South Africa. The Asiatic birds winter in Beloochistan, some of them 

 probably crossing Arabia into Africa. 



Lapwing; Green Plover; Peewit (Vanellus cristatus) 



The Auckland Society in 1872 liberated 36, but nothing more 

 was ever heard of them. Another attempt was made in 1875, when 

 36 more were shipped for Auckland; only four were landed and 

 three of them died soon after. 



The Canterbury Society obtained nine (imported by Mr C. Bills) 

 in 1873, and liberated them, but they were not seen again. 



The Otago Society purchased 36 birds in 1897, managed to ship 

 22, and only landed five in Dunedin. These were liberated at 

 Clifton, and were seen flying about the fields for some time; then 

 they disappeared. 



In 1900, 50 birds were purchased, only 14 were shipped in 

 London, and eight arrived in Dunedin. In the following year it is 

 reported that "no young birds have been seen. Those liberated on 

 Goodwood Estate did not survive many days, and some of their 

 skeletons were picked up soon after they were liberated, the birds 

 having been killed either by weasels or by hawks." 



The Government introduced a lot in 1904. Of these 35 were 

 handed over to the Wellington Society, and were Uberated, but 

 nothing more was heard of them. The Westland Society received 



