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of green, and forming with the tree-ferns a study that I was never tired of gazing upon from our open 
shelter. When broad daylight poured in upon us through the opening in the forest, or the slanting 
rays of the setting sun lighted up the feathery crowns of these majestic tree-ferns, casting the vegeta- 
tion below into deeper shade, the effect w'as simply enchanting. Then out of the tangle in front 
there rose a beautiful specimen of Cyatliea dealhata, its star-like crown, a perfect model of graceful 
symmetry, and its lofty stem draped with creeping kohia of brilliant green ; while, to heighten the 
general effect, there hung from a neighboui'ing tree festoons of the beautiful white clematis, just 
bursting into full bloom. Examined more in detail the surroundings of our little camp were full of 
interest. The whole ground was carpeted with mosses and ferns of all the commoner species, whilst 
a fallen log at our very feet presented on its damp surface a perfect garden of the curious kidney fern 
{Tricliomanes reniforme ) — tens of thousands of beairtiful ferns of vivid satiny-green crowding one 
upon another in endless profusion, intermingled with the delicate fronds of Ilyrnenophyllwn. Whilst 
we were engaged in camp preparations the native lad who had taken charge of the dogs came in 
with three fine Kiwis, caught in our vicinity, but unfortunately crushed to death, as the dogs were 
left unmuzzled. 
After having refreshed ourselves in the morning, we started on our first real Kiwi-hunt. We 
took a course down the side of the gully and were soon in a perfect labyrinth of supplejack {Rhipo- 
gonim scandens). These vines hung from the trees, ran along the ground, twisted around each other 
and crossed and recrossed, forming the most complete Chinese puzzle one could imagine, and so 
interlacing the underwood together that it was a matter of extreme difficulty to get through it even 
at a slow pace. Then when the little dogs took up the scent and disappeared down the gully it 
became necessary to follow quickly in the direction their bells indicated, so as to be “ in at the death ; 
and then the hunt became as exciting as it was difficult — the kareao catching the feet and tripping 
one up or sti'iking painfully across the shins — and so up and down, now swinging by a vine, now 
pushing on all fours through the tangle ; forcing one’s way through clumps of kiekie and dense beds 
of Lomaria down into the bottom of the ravine ; then, as the scent led upwards, following the tinkling 
bells (the dogs being out of sight) up the tangled slope again, the course sometimes forming a com- 
plete circuit of the “ field ” and representing the erratic wanderings of the Kiwi upon the feeding- 
ground the night before. Heated, out of breath, scratched in the face and hands, and with our shins 
aching from repeated contact with the kareao-vines, every now and then we halted to ascertain by the 
sound of the bells the position of the dogs, and then, full of excitement, resumed our novel chase 
again. At length, just beside a rough track on the hillside, our dogs ran their quarry to earth, and 
began to tear with their paws at the opening to the “ rua-kiwi.” Calling the dogs off and closing in 
upon the spot, we drew from the cavity a fine male Kiwi, and then two vigorous young birds, all 
unharmed but evidently much scared and striking boldly wdth their claws. Our captives were soon 
secured in a Maori ket and we sat down to rest for a short time before taking up the scent again. I 
put my arm far down into the cavity and found that although the rounded entrance was just large 
enough to admit the bird, the chamber opened out inside, extending diagonally to a depth of about 
two feet, and wide enough at the bottom for the accommodation of two full-grown birds. I drew out 
the nest-materials, consisting of shreds of kiekie-leaves and other dry litter, mixed with Kiwi- 
feathers. 
We had not to hunt long before we came upon another bird, a fine adult female and presumably 
the mate of the one we had just caught. She had taken refuge in a cavity under a rata-root and one 
of the dogs, having unfortunately slipped his muzzle, killed the bird by breaking her neck. Other 
captures followed and the aggregate result of the first day’s hunt was ten Kiwis, of all ages, and one 
splendid egg *. The ground traversed by us during this hunt and extending over many miles gave 
* For the information of collectors it may he mentioned that as soon as the bird is killed it is advisable to hang it np by 
