THE IBIS. 
No. XIX. JULY 1863. 
XXIV.— Ornithological Notes from the Antipodes. 
By E. L. Layard. 
In my last communication from Auckland, dated 7th October, 
1862, I promised to send you some information respecting the 
land-birds of New Zealand; but I regret to state that the anticipa¬ 
tions which I had been led to form of investigating the zoology of 
those curious islands have never been fulfilled; I can therefore say 
but little concerning the land-birds. During my few rambles in 
the forest, I found a singular dearth of animal life. Perhaps, in 
the course of two hours 5 walk, a single Black Bobin (theTotoara 
of Haast *) would perch on the end of a spray close to my face, 
and peer into my eyes, as if wondering why I was fool enough 
to come there for specimens. With him would probably appear 
the Pan-tail Flycatcher, a bold pugnacious little fellow, who 
would hop on to the walking-stick in my hand, or fight so 
furiously with a leafy bough, if twirled in his face, as to allow 
himself to be caught by hand. Once or twice I saw the fine New 
Zealand Pigeon ( Carpophaga novae-zelandice); and once, when 
galloping along the road to the Waikato, the Kaka ( Nestor meri- 
dionalis); but our journeys were always performed at a pace 
which precluded any chance of collecting. 
I am indebted to a friend, Mr. Webster of Hokianga, on the 
north-western coast of the Northern Island, for much information 
and nearly all the birds I obtained; but his specimens are similar 
to those which casual observations, snatched as I went along, 
enabled me to identify on the south-eastern side. The Middle 
Island I did not visit, much to my disappointment. 
* See ‘Ibis/ 1862, p. 105 .—Ed. 
YOL. V. 
S 
