1922.] Oliver.—Little Barrier Island Bird-sanctuary. 
287 
usually near the shore. While investigating a colony of the pied shag 1 
found at the tops of the sea-cliffs on the south side of Little Barrier Island 
many burrows of these petrels. Breeding birds were taken on the island 
by Reischek. 
Brown Petrel {Puffinus gavia). —I did not see this species, but as it was 
taken on Little Barrier Island by Reischek it must be included in the list 
as breeding on the island. 
Shearwater {Puffinus carneipes). 
Allied Shearwater {Puffinus assimilis). —This bird is similar to Puffinus 
gavia. but smaller and with the upper parts bluish-black. It was found 
breeding on the northern portion of Little Barrier Island by Reischek.* 
Laridae. 
White-fronted Tern {Sterna striata). 
Caspian Tern {Hydroprogne caspia). 
Black-backed Gull {Larus dominicanus) .—Common round the coasts. 
Shakespear states that it breeds on the north-west corner of the island. 
Red-billed Gull {Larus novaehollandiae). —Common. 
Charadriidae. 
Black Oyster-catcher {Haematopus unicolor). 
Rallidae. 
Marsh-rail ( Porzana pusilla). —Shakespear in 1904 reported the presence 
of the koitareke. 
CUCULIDAE. 
Shining Cuckoo {Chalcococcyx lueidus). —Plentiful in the summer ; eggs 
have not yet been found on Little Barrier Island. 
Long-tailed Cuckoo {Urodynamis taitensis). —Very plentiful during the 
summer. This bird is reported as robbing the nests of other birds. 
Shakespear states that he has seen a long-tailed cuckoo with a nestling 
in its mouth. 
Falconidae. 
Harrier {Circus approximans). —According to the caretaker the harrier 
breeds on Little Barrier Island, but owing to his efforts not many are to 
be seen now. Visitors from the mainland may at times be seen soaring 
overhead. On one occasion I noticed three. 
Bush-hawk {Nesierax navaeseelandiae). —This fierce bird of prey is present 
on the island, but it is not so often seen as is the harrier. 
Bubonidae. 
Morepork Owl ( Spiloglaux novaeseelandiae). —The morepork is very 
common, appearing at dusk. Its call may be heard throughout the night. 
An examination recently made of the contents of a number of stomachs of 
these birds showed that their food consists, during the summer-time at 
least, entirely of insects, mainly of beetles and weta. 
Nestoridae. 
Kaka {Nestor meridionalis). —On several occasions small flocks were 
encountered in kauri forest. From their perch high up on the trees they 
utter their warning screeches as the intruder is located, or single birds on 
* Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. 19, p. 183, 1887. 
