468 
Miscellanea. 
Evaporation. —The mean annual evaporation was 38-112 
inches, or 3-035 inches more than the fall of rain. From nine 
a.m. to noon the mean daily evaporation measured 0-0197 inch ; 
from noon to three p.m., 0-0257 inch; and from three p.m. to 
nine a.m, the following morning, 0 0623 inch. The greatest 
monthly evaporation occurred in the month of November, and the 
least in June. 
Rain. —The mean annual fall of rain was 35-077 inches. 
January being the wettest, and October the driest month. 
Winds. —The prevailing winds are easterly, and predominate 
most during the months of September to end of January. 
During the winter months, between May and August, dry and 
cold westerly winds are very frequent. The south wind is more 
frequent than the north wind throughout the year in the propor¬ 
tion of 3 to 1. 
Jtfttstdlantn. 
NEW BIRDS OP NEW ZEALAND. 
Extracts were read from a letter from Mr. F. Strange, on the 
Ka-ka-po of New Zealand ( Strigops habroptilus, G. R. Gray) 
It appears that this nocturnal parrot, of which there are but three 
specimens in Europe, resorts in the day time to burrows formed 
under roots of trees or masses of rock. Its habitat is the west 
side of the Middle Island, and its food fern roots and the outer 
coveiing of flax leaves. Mr. Strange has obtained evidence of 
the existence of a second species of Kivi (Apteryx), known to the 
sealers as the Fireman : its eggs are described as nearly as large 
as the emu’s, laid in a burrow, and, like those of the kivi, dirty 
white ; its height is said to be three feet. This bird may prove 
to be in reality a Dinornis.—Proceedings Zoological Society 
April 13, 1847.— Atheneeum, No. 1020. 
