EXTRACTS FROM REVIEWS. 
“ New Zealand is especially fortunate in the possession of many admirable Naturalists, including geologists, botanists, and 
zoologists. One of the latter (born and bred in the colony), a gentleman who has made many zoological contributions to the 
Transactions of the New-Zealand Institute,’ and whose acquirements, more especially as an ornithologist, have been recognized 
by his having had conferred upon him the Degree of Doctor of Science, as well as the Fellowship of the Linnean, Geological, 
Royal Geographical, and Zoological Societies, is at present in London passiug through the press a magnificent work on the Birds 
of New Zealand, one that cannot fail to bring prominently into notice the present aspects of scientific culture in that colony.” 
Constitutional (Nov. 18, 1872). 
“ It is not often that thorough practical knowledge, both in the field and at home, is possessed by the author of a work like 
the present ; but Dr. Buller has studied his subject in both aspects, and the value of his book is clearly enhanced thereby. More- 
over he has set about his task in a way that shows us that he thoroughly appreciates the difficulties surrounding it. His personal 
acquaintance with the birds themselves has been followed up by a critical and impartial investigation of the writings of previous 
authors ; and, lastly, an independent examination of many of the typical specimens in England has placed him in a position to 
speak with great precision upon intricate points of synonymy. The consequences to many of the indigenous birds of New Zealand, 
arising out of its colonization by Europeans, seem likely to be so disastrous, that it is high time that authentic histories of them 
should be put on record before they finally disappear. Dr. Buller’s work, therefore, supplies what might have proved a serious 
omission in ornithological literature. It is not too late to write a full life-history of those New-Zealand birds whose numbers 
are rapidly diminishing; but a few years hence it is more than probable such a task could not be accomplished. Though the 
present active causes may be novel, the rapid destruction of the indigenous fauna of New Zealand dates back to far beyond 
historic times; for though Maori tradition may give an approximately recent time when the Moa still survived, numbers of other 
similar forms have succumbed whose remains are now found in a semi-fossilized state, and of these we have not another vestige 
of record. They, like the Dodo and the Solitaire, seem to have fallen victims to some enemy suddenly introduced into their 
domain, against which they were powerless to make successful resistance. The remains of these extinct birds have furnished 
the materials for Prof. Owen’s series of exhaustive memoirs on Dinornis and its allies. Dr. Buller’s will form a fit companion 
work, and thus provide us with a very complete record of the birds of New Zealand both past and present.” — The Ibis. 
“ The first work professing to give a complete account of the ornithology of New Zealand must needs bo an important one. 
This ornithic fauna presents so many points of general biological interest, that only those of the islands east of Africa can be 
compared with it It was high time that a complete account of this fauna should be given by a competent naturalist. 
Some of the most interesting forms have already become almost, if not quite, extinct ; others are fast expiring, or obliged to 
accommodate themselves to the changed conditions of the country Wo do not say that the majority of the native 
species will not survive, though in diminished numbers of individuals ; but it is quite probable that some of these survivors will 
be preserved by accommodating themselves to the new state of things, modifying in a more or less perceptible manner their 
nidification, food, or some other part of thoir mode of life ; and if such changes should occur, the student of a future generation 
will find in Dr. Buller’s work the means of comparing the birds of his time with those of the past The author has 
shown unremitting care in adducing all the information that can possibly throw light on his subject ; he has spared no pains 
in illustrating it in the most perfect manner ; and the result is that a most valuable work is placed before the student of 
ornithology, which will offer to every lover of natural history real and permanent enjoyment, and which, by its attractive form, 
will allure many a young mau in that colony from the pursuit of other branches into the camp of ornithology.”- — Annals awl 
Magazine of Natural History. 
“ A mind may be so imbued with the views of Darwin as to be blind to the evidence of his eyesight, deaf to the logic of 
facts ; but there is no proof that Dr. Buller is either : he is evidently friendly to Darwin’s celebrated hypothesis, but sees, hears, 
and thinks for himself. Happily for Science, the author for twelve years has held an official position in New Zealand 
which has enabled him to visit every part of the country, while his frequent intercourse with the natives has greatly assisted him 
in acquiring the information required for making such a work complete It contains a vast amount of the soundest 
natural-history teaching, and seems to combine in an eminent degree the new with the true The illustrations in the 
first number, the only one yet published, are excellently drawn by M. Keulemans, who always aims at the representation of 
living birds rather than the conventional attitudes of birdstuffer’s specimens. They are well coloured by hand, and thus the 
work is rendered as ornamental as useful. We cordially recommend the ‘ History of the Birds of New Zealand ’ to the readers of 
the ‘ Zoologist,’ and we sincerely wish it every success.” — Zoologist. 
“ The accounts which naturalists from time to time have given to the world of the birds inhabiting New Zealand have been 
hitherto but fragmentary and incomplete ; and although forty years have elapsed since the first of such publications made its 
appearance, the available sources of information on this subject are still so few in number, that they may be euumerated almost 
in a breath. The late Mr. George Gray might deservedly be regarded as the pioneer of New-Zealand ornithologists ; for, although 
