558 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 
above high-water mark. It is stated in the “ Manual of the Birds of 
New Zealand ” that it is known “ to leave the far north (of the North 
island) towards the end of March or beginning of April.” This is 
either a mistake or can only refer to a partial migration; here in the 
South, Port Cooper, I have eaten birds shot on the 10th May. I have 
notes of their being in the district at any rate in September. From 
these observations it may reasonably be inferred that some birds 
remain to breed. 
Genus—Numenius. 
77. Numenius cyanopus, Vieill. 
Curlew.—Has occurred occasionally. 
78. Numenius mopygialis, Gould. 
_ There is a record of its appearance here. 
Genus—Recurvirostra. 
79. Recurvirostra rubricollis, Temm. 
Avocet.—Settlement, and the drainage of swamps and other field 
works have tended to make this wader a rarity in these latter days; as 
its habitat extends over Australia and Tasmania it may be expected to 
occur occasionally. It was far from rare, but never abundant, yet 
there were localities where it was pretty sure to be met with in the 
swampy lands that bordered the north bank of the Waikerikepi, by 
the Waimate lagoon, or near the mouth of the Rakaia, Lagoons near 
Rockwood, Malvern district, &«. Eggs four to a nest, pale yellowish 
brown, marked with round-edged spots of umber brown and black, 
small faint greyish marks interspersed. Length one inch ten lines, 
breadth one inch three lines. 
Genus—Himantopus. 
80. Himantopus leucocephalus, Gould. 
Pied Stilt, Poaka.—Makes a slight nest of grass, often by the 
edge of lagoons or meres, in swamps, it exhibits a gregarious habit as 
sometimes five or six nests may be found very near together. It lays 
four eggs, but I have known five to a clutch, this is of rather rare 
occurrence. Eggs, pyriform, ovoid, ovoido-conical, this shape is un- 
common, as also is a form having the smaller end blunt; there are 
many shades in the ground colour; yellow brown with umber brown 
and black spots with some grey marks more or less distinct; others 
greenish yellow, pinky brown, or pale yellowish brown, splashed and 
marked variously with umber brown, black, and greyish. <A set from | 
the Kaikoura district, taken November 15th, 1873, clear pale olive 
brown over the smaller half this gradually becomes of a darker 
yellowish brown, almost free from any mark except a few rounded 
dots, till near the bilge is a broad annular blotch of confluent rounded 
splashes of black and umber with lighter edges; two of the eggs have 
the apex clear, the third is covered with rich marks and spots. The 
nesting season about here commences in October; the site of its home 
depends much upon the season, as to whether it be wet or dry. 
October 3rd, 1884.—Four eggs hatched, this was in a nest ona 
piece of wet land near the Hinds, the nest was surrounded by water, 
nile 
