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(Elceocarjms dentata), containing two very young birds, which were “ covered with soft white down, 
plumbeous beneath.” In a clump of wood on the banks of the Wairoa river I found a nest, also 
containing two fully fledged young ones. I sent my native lad, Hemi Tapapa, up the tree to capture 
them ; and while he was so engaged the parent birds came forth from their hiding-place, and darted 
at his face with a low growling note, making him yell with fear *. The Maoris share in the almost 
universal feeling of superstition regarding the Owl. ITemi’s conscience was troubled ; and as the 
shades of night were closing in upon us with the call of “ more pork ! ” in every direction, he handed 
me the captives and hurried away from the scene of his exploit, evidently sharing, in some degree, the 
horrors of that luckless wight, immortalized by Mr. Stevenson in his ‘ Birds of Norfolk,’ who, having 
killed the church Owl as it flitted past him, ran shrieking home and confessed his awful crime — 
“I’ve been and shot a Cherubim!” 
There are two eggs of this species in my son’s collection. One of these is almost spherical, the 
other is slightly ovoid, measuring T5 inch in length by T2 in breadth ; they are perfectly white, 
with a very slight gloss on the surface. 
* “ Once the writer had an unusual adventure with one of these birds. It was early evening in the summer-time. The 
Owl was sitting on a gate. Anxious to watch and study its motions we sat down close by it ; soon it left its perch, making a 
sudden swoop at the intruder. This manoeuvre it continued to rcpoat time after time, most perseveringly, and with great gi'avity 
and deliberation. Only once was a blow felt ; after each attack the bird resumed its perch on the gate. After a while the 
writer rose and walked up a dark ferny gully at some distance, when the Owl followed and again attacked him. This is the 
only instance we have met with in which this species has shown any symptoms of boldly' resenting an intrusion on its privacy.” 
- — Out in the Open. 
Young of Yew-Zealand Owl. 
