Geological Survey of Canterbury. 135 



where discovered in descending the down-like hills lying round the lake 

 on the bridle-path to Hokitika ; not only are all the rocks smooth and 

 rounded, but erratic blocks and numerous lagoons are also present. 

 I followed the well-selected track across these hills, descending far 

 down the other side, for a geological examination, till I came to the place 

 where I obtained good sections free from snow, during my first journey. 

 When afterwards ascending the eastern slopes of Mount Harman, a 

 large bird of prey passed within a few hundred yards of us ; its large 

 size, more pointed wings, and dark colour distinguished it at once from 

 the New Zealand Harrier {Circus G-ouldii) , so common on our plains, 

 but which I never observed in the alpine regions. Mr A. J. Mathias, 

 my companion during this trip, had never seen it before, although 

 he had lived several years in the upper valley of the Kakaia, and during 

 that time he had closely observed the birds of that region, neither had 

 the late F. L. Fuller, the taxidermist at the time attached to our 

 Museum, who had collected New Zealand birds for several years, and 

 knew well their peculiarities. We observed the same species (Eagle 

 hawk ?) once more next morning, when returning to Groat Hill, above 

 the junction of the Stewart with the Wilberf orce, when it was pursuing 

 a sparrow hawk, and flying very high above us. In the evening we 

 reached the hut, after having obtained, during the descent, another 

 set of observations at different points. 



We returned on April the 1st to Groat Hill, where we arrived late 

 at night, having first ascended during the day the eastern tributary 

 below Sebastopol rock, and opposite the junction of the river Stewart. 

 The next two days were fully occupied with arranging and packing my 

 collections, which had increased considerably, besides washing and 

 mending the clothes, to which our dense and prickly sub-alpine 

 vegetation is a particular enemy, and preparing for a fresh start. We 

 left on the 4th of April, intending to reach the sources of the main 

 branch of the Harper, and followed the wide river-bed along the 

 opening, disclosing here, on the right bank between Mount G-argarus 

 and the low glacialised hills to the west of it, rocks of the same 

 character as those observed previously in the same horizon. They 

 form, in some localities, banks 12 to 15 feet high, covered with 

 morainic accumulations and fluviatile deposits ; in some places where 

 the upper surface is exposed they exhibit stria? and rounded forms 

 peculiar to glacialised countries. Before us rose the bleak Craigie- 

 burn range, consisting almost entirely from summit to bottom of one 

 continuous mass of debris. In front, and apparently closing up the 



