Vol. 
XXIV. 
1!V21 
] MONCRIE.FF, Birds o) II est Coast , N.Z. 
65 
Bittern, disturbed at his fishing, stalked indignantly away, and a 
young Fernbird ( Bowdleria punctata) Hew out of a reed bed 
tlutteriilg its wings and uttering “utick u-tick” as it watched us 
endeavouring to find the recently occupied nest. The nest is 
usually placed just beneath the rushes, where these have been 
blown over by the wind, thus forming an arch to protect it. 
As we returned homeward on the tidal waters, the mud was 
becoming uncovered, and the sea birds returned for their evening 
meal. Godwits ( Limosa lap ponied) stood in close formation on 
one leg until we approached too close, when they rose, wheeled, 
and settled a short distance oil. One bird had only one leg, and 
could be easily distinguished from the others by its ungainly hops. 
Further on we met a couple of Redbills or Sooty Oystercatchers 
{Hcental opus unicolor). Their efforts to put some distance be¬ 
tween themselves and us were comical to a degree. Being knee- 
deep in the water, the birds, especially the male, had to lift their 
legs to get along, and reminded one of the gambols of a young 
elephant. We had to stop rowing and laugh. This pair were a 
long way away from their companions, thus one would suppose 
they were paired for the season. The female, however, was not 
a Redbill, but a Pied Oystercatcher ( Ilcematopus osiralegus) , thus 
it would appear that they frequently interbreed. Later on we 
saw many more on the mud flats, and noticed that there were 
other couples fishing together, though the Pied Oystercatchers 
were more numerous. Terns seem to like this neighbourhood, as 
we sighted a pair of Caspian Terns ( Uydroprogne caspia), also 
the common White-fronted Tern ( Sterna striata) plunging after 
their prey, whilst everywhere we looked we saw the Mackerel 
or Silver Gull (Lams novcc-hollandicc) and the Black-backed 
Gull (Laras dominicanus) . The White Herons or Egrets (Egretta 
alba), when visible, are usually to be seen near the township, fish¬ 
ing under the bridge or standing like sentries on the mudflats. 
Rumour lias it that before the place was protected their young 
were collected and given as food to the pigs. Now they are 
slowlv increasing in numbers. 
In the evening as we wended our way home through exquisite 
bush, we heard Kakas calling to each other, and stopped the 
car to obtain a glimpse of them. They were very difficult to 
locate, as they were hidden among the branches of a rata tree. 
Their harsh notes were intermingled with a weird gurgling sound. 
Later on we sighted one flying to rejoin his mates. 
The inhabitants of the Glacier neighbourhood all told me that 
Parakeets were once very common there. One year, however, 
these birds were picked up dead in great numbers, after which 
they disappeared until just recently, when they are re-appearing 
in small numbers, and it is to be hoped that they will continue 
to increase. Finding them dead, points very much to the fact 
that they were attacked by some disease (malaria — ?), introduced 
by imported birds, and are at last becoming immune to it. 
