from the Antipodes. 245 
was drawn down transfixed on the spear, which was shortly after 
on its way up the tree again for the scarcely dead creature’s mate. 
The Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) has all but disappeared 
from the Northern Island. The Weka (Ocxydromus australis) is 
very scarce. Mr. Webster writes as if he had not seen it, and 
says, “ I have been unable as yet to procure a specimen for you.” 
I never succeeded in getting one during my ten months* stay in 
the Northern Island. 
As much of our travelling was done by sea, I was enabled to 
note pretty accurately what birds frequented the coast. I saw 
Diomedece eoculans , chlororhyncha, melanophrys, and fuliginosa . 
The Mutton-bird (Pvffinus brevicaudus, Gould) is wonderfully 
abundant. Daption capensis is common. The Diving Petrels 
(Puffinuria urinatrioc, Gould?) to the north of East Cape are 
very abundant; to the south I never saw them. Besides these, I 
observed Gannets, two kinds of Terns (Sterna caspia , and another 
with deeply forked tail and black head), Blue Petrels, three 
varieties of Cormorants, and two Gulls (Xema jamesonii and 
Larus pacificus )„ 
In the marshes about Napier, on the east coast, are myriads of 
Ducks —Hymenolcemus malacorhynchus, Casarca variegata, and 
another which I cannot identify. Several Terns (differing from 
those already named, but which I recognized as figured by Gould), 
a few Sandpipers, and a beautiful grey-crested Cormorant with 
black spots on its back (also figured by Gould) complete my 
list. 
Among the Sandpipers, a Godwit (Limosa uropygialis ?), mis¬ 
named the “ Curlew ** by the colonists, abounds, and affords 
almost the only sport to shooters : they are delicious eating. I 
heard of 112 being killed at two discharges by some of the 
officers of H. M. S. *' Harrier.* The Black Oyster-catcher (Hce- 
matopus unicolor ) is also much sought after as an article of 
" gibier.** 
I had almost forgotten the large blue Water-Hen i {Porphyrio 
melanotus), which may be seen in vast numbers in all the swamps 
and reedy margins of the rivers; nor is the Bittern (Botaurus 
melanotus) uncommon. A single specimen of the White Heron 
(Herodias flavirostris) was shot near Auckland and brought to mei 
