21 



presence of cross-bars on the plumage, as well as by the longitudinal stripes usually seen in the 

 plumage of Apteryx mantelli. Further investigation, together with the fact that the plumage on 

 none of the four examples is identical, clearly shows them to be hybrids between Apteryx mantelli 

 and Apteryx Occident alls. It will thus be seen at a glance that, while all specimens of Apteryx 

 liaasti are regularly barred, the hybrids between barred forms and striped forms of Apteryx show 

 a mixed character of markings." 



I have always been rather sceptical about hybrids among wild forms in a state of nature, 

 although there are, of course, some well-authenticated cases. In this instance Mr. Eothschild set 

 the matter at rest himself, fiye years later, by writing (Nov. Zool., vi., p. 386) :■ — " I evidently 

 made a mistake about this, as they all lost the mixed appearance in their plumage, and could after- 

 wards not be distinguished from ordinary A. oweni." 



Apart, however, from the inherent improbability of hybrids in a state of nature, Mr. 

 Eothschild's conclusion was obviously wrong, because Apteryx mantelli is an inhabitant of the 

 North Island and A. occidentalis of the South. The only recorded instance of the occurrence of 

 the latter species north of Cook's Strait is the bird mentioned by me as obtained near the summit 

 of Mount Hector ; and Apteryx mantelli is not known to exist on Mount Hector or in any part of 

 the Tararua ranges. (See vol. ii., p. 328.) 



Mr. K. Henry declares that on one occasion he found a little A. oweni hatching an 

 A. australis egg, and that the egg had a chick in it. 



One of my best correspondents, Mr. J. Brough, writing to me from the Pelorus, says : " I have 

 now been camped in these woods for about a month — up one of the tributaries of the Pelorus 

 Kiver known as Wakamarina. I am camped a long way up the creek, at a place where I used to 

 collect birds some years ago. In those days I found it a good hunting-ground ; a great number of 

 species could be then obtained in this locality ; but now all this is changed. I seldom see or hear 

 any birds worth collecting. The stoats and weasels have done their fell work. For three weeks 

 I was camped right up amongst the mountains and in the heart of the bush, and I never saw a 

 single Wood-hen, nor did I ever hear one. I heard one Kiwi calling, and I found one dead 

 Apteryx oweni on the ground with its head and neck mutilated by the stoats. I do not now see or 

 hear any Saddle-backs, or Pigeons, or Wrens, all of which were plentiful enough in this place 

 a few years ago. The Blue Duck used to be fairly abundant in the creek, and they are now 

 nearly extinct. This time I have seen only one pair. They had a brood of young ones, so I felt 

 that I could not shoot them. They had six young ones when I first saw them. I have an 

 opportunity of seeing them in the creek every day, and it is very interesting to watch them. But 

 the young ones are getting fewer every week, and now there are only three left. I attribute this 

 also to the stoats, which are very numerous about here." 



An old settler at Wanganui, from whom I have received many specimens in the past, writes 

 me : " Weasels have destroyed all game, and I think Wekas will share the same fate. I never 

 see any. I have killed seventeen weasels on my place in three months ; and of the many bad 

 things introduced I think this the worst." And Mr. William Smyth, the well-known collector, 

 writing to me from Dunedin, says : "I got only a few Wekas from Waimate last winter. They 

 have practically disappeared from the Otago country." 



I reproduce here two excellent photographs of Apteryx oweni by an amateur, Mr. William 

 Eeid, of Wishaw, Scotland, who was lately on a visit to New Zealand. 



