75 
In the summer of 1851, Mr. F. Jollie observed a flight of Swallows at Wakapuaka, in the 
vicinity of Nelson, and succeeded in shooting one, the description of which, as given by him, left no 
doubt in my mind that it was of the same species. According to a statement made by the late Sir 
David Monro at a meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Society in February 1875 *, it would 
appear that about the same period there were other appearances of this Swallow in the vicinity of 
Nelson. 
At a later period, again, the bird appeared at Blenheim, in the provincial district of Marlborough, 
the fact being announced to me in a letter f from Mr. J. It. W. Cook, dated June 22, 1878, from 
which I quote the following: — 
“ On Sunday, the 9th instant, about two miles from Blenheim, on the bank of the Opawa river, 
I saw the first Martin I have met with in New Zealand. The bird was hawking after insects close to 
the ground in a ploughed field. I was accompanied by two residents in the town of Blenheim, and 
we watched it closely for some time. It passed us at one time within a few yards. There was no 
mistaking either the appearance or the flight of the bird. It seemed to me more like the English 
House-Martin than the common Australian Martin. It seemed, however, dingier in the black than 
the English bird, and rather smaller — more like the Sand-Martin, in fact. Unfortunately I was 
absent from the district for some days after seeing it, but since returning I have carefully watched 
for its reappearance. I have not again seen the bird, so presume it has shifted its quarters.” 
I had a further communication from Mr. Cook on August 23rd in which he said : — “I saw what 
I believe to be the same bird, about half a mile from where I saw it before, a month after its first 
appearance.” 
In April of the following year I had the pleasure of receiving from him a freshly skinned speci- 
men of this bird, accompanied by the following letter : — 
“ Since writing to you last winter, reporting the occurrence here of the Australian Swallow, I 
did not again notice the bird until the 16th of February last, when I saw another hawking over 
one of my stubble paddocks. I watched it for some time, and had good opportunities of remarking its 
plumage. The bird appeared to me either immature or weary, the flight being weak and uncertain. 
I found, too, that the white on the rump was dingy, and the chestnut on the breast faded-looking. 
There was a stiffish nor’-west breeze blowing at the time, and the bird tried in vain to get past a belt 
of willow and poplar so long as I was watching. 
“ On the 20th of last month (March) when duck-shooting, I mentioned the occurrence to a party 
of sportsmen, when one remarked ‘ Oh ! there have been some birds answering to your description 
flying about Grovetown for some time back.’ Grovetown, I may remark, is situated about four miles 
from this, and nearly in the centre of the Wairau valley. After a little talk on the subject it struck 
me that possibly the birds had been bred there. I said — ‘ The next time you see them, shoot one 
and send to me.’ Yesterday morning one was handed in, but unfortunately I did not see the man 
who brought it. Fearing that the weather might not allow me to send it to you in the flesh, I have 
skinned the bird and now send it to you.” 
Mr. Cook having very thoughtfully sent me also the body, preserved in spirit, I was able to 
dissect it. It proved to be an adult female, and the stomach contained four large blue-bottle flies, 
almost uninjured, and the remains of others in black comminuted matter. 
As bearing on this point, he remarks : — “ Certainly the condition of the specimen is not that of 
one which has lately made a long aerial trip. In skinning it, although I freely used cotton wool and 
kept the pepper-castor going, I could not help getting the plumage saturated with oil, owing to the 
excessive fatness of the body.” 
* Trans. Xew-Zealand Instit. vol. vii. p. 510. 
t Op. tit. vol. xi. p. 360. 
l2 
