ornithological researches, and especially with the object of studying the habits of these birds, which I may here mention I have never seen or heard on the mainland or other surrounding islands.

After searching the western and south-western parts of the island, I was unsuccessful in seeing or obtaining a single specimen. I intended penetrating in to the centre, but was informed by the Natives that it was impossible to get overland to the east coast on account of the many precipices, and that the sea was too rough to permit of my landing on that side; so I returned to Auckland, with the intention of resuming the search at another time.

In May, 1882, Mr. Dobson, a friend who has accompanied me in several of my journeyings, preceded me to the same island, for the purpose of repairing old huts and building new ones, taking provisions for a prolonged mountain expedition, my intention being to follow him in June; but, owing to boisterous weather, after making two attempts to land, and having to give it up, once in the Water Lily after five days' cruising, and once in the Rangatira after three days', I put off my trip till October, on the 15th of which month I succeeded in landing. The first night we camped at the foot of a precipice, the ascent of which we commenced at three o'clock next morning. To give an idea of the difficulty of climbing here, I had to pull my dog (a good Alpine traveller,) up with a rope, in addition to our provisions, &c. After this we climbed over two ranges, each above 2,000 feet high, arriving at an old nikau whare, which my friend had previously built, at the foot of the last range. It was dark before we finished mending the roof and preparing for a start the next day. On the morning of the 23rd, I first heard the whistle of the Stitch-bird: I was unable, however, to get a glimpse of it; and though we cut tracks to the tops of most of the main ranges, and afterwards frequently heard the birds, could never see them. Later experience has taught me that their shrill whistle is very deceptive, and the sound travels a long distance.

I then shifted my quarters further towards the interior; and on the 25th, my attention was arrested by the call of my dog at a short distance. On going towards him I saw a male Stitchbird hopping about in a very excited manner in the scrub above him. I was so interested in watching this beautiful bird (which has a brighter plumage than any of its New Zealand compeers), with its quick and graceful movements, that it disappeared before I attempted to use my gun.

Though constantly exploring, I never saw another specimen till the 7th November, yet frequently heard them. Early on that morning we travelled north-west to the top of a high, narrow range of precipices, overgrown with short thick scrub

and manga-manga, which made it so dense that I had to cut the way with my hunting-knife. This place I found a favourite resort of these birds, (which have cost me so much time, labour, and patience,) having a warm aspect, exposed to the sun. There I saw male and female, the latter for the first time; but, unfortunately, my friend was carrying the gun, and before he could hand it to me, both birds had disappeared. On the 8th November, I saw a male at the same place, and on going over a range I heard another; subsequently I went round it, and saw male and female near a nest, and endeavoured to observe them unnoticed, but they quickly saw me, and in the act of escaping I shot them. I then went and examined the nest, which was only half finished, built of very small branches, roots, and fine native grass, and lined with hairy substance off the fronds of the punga.

In December, 1883, in the centre of the island, I observed a pair of adults with three young birds. On the male noticing me, he uttered a shrill whistle, and the female immediately hid amongst the fern for a considerable time. I procured several specimens; of which I gave Dr. Buller a male, female, and young. I have only once seen these birds sitting still, and that was near the nest. They appear always on the move, carrying their heads proudly, their wings drooped, and their tails spread and raised; and, at each successive movement, they utter that peculiar whistle from which the Natives have named them "Tiora." The female has a different note, sounding like "tac, tac, tac," repeated several times. They feed on small berries and insects, and suck the honey from the native wild-flowers and trees, as many of the latter exude honey during the night. In fine weather I have found them on the mountains between precipices, in low scrub, where the aspect is warm; but in bad weather, lower down in the gullies, in places entangled with numerous creepers. They are not strong on the wing, but very active in hopping and climbing, which enables them to quickly escape from sight.

The plumage of the male is as follows:-Head and neck, shining velvet black, with a few long silvery white ear-feathers; shoulders, golden yellow; upper secondary, white, with brownish black points, and a slight splash of white under the wing covers; wings and tail, brownish black, each feather edged on the outer side with olive green; tail cover, greenish tinge, and a yellow band round the breast; abdomen, greyish brown ; bill, black; eyes, dark brown; feet, light brown. The female is a little smaller than the male, of olive brown colour on the top of the head, back, wing, and tail, each feather being shaded with olive green; shoulders, yellowish; upper secondary, white, with yellowish brown shade, ear feathers hardly perceptible, under part brownish grey; bill, legs, and eyes same

as male. So far as I know, the plumage of the young, which differs from that of the adult bird, has never been described :

MEASUREMENT.

I landed on my last expedition on the 8th April, 1885, returning in May, during which time I went to the centre of the island, where I knew their favourite resort, to obtain some specimens for the use of the New Zealand museums. I was then successful in observing a pair feed their young, (two males and one female,) which must have been a late brood. I also shot some, shedding their first plumage, as per specimen shown, the yellowish band round the chest beginning to show, also the white ear feathers, and the throat, neck, and head changing from grey to black. When very young, the male is of similar plumage to the female, except the yellow shoulders.

These very rare birds will soon disappear, even from these lonely wilds, owing to the domestic wild cats, which are very numerous, and commit great havoc among them, and also the Sparrow-hawk (Hieracidea nova-zealandia) and "Morepork," (Athene nova-zealandia) in whose crops I have often found. their remains.

ART. XIII.-Notes on New Zealand Ornithology: Observations on Procellaria parkinsoni (Grey), Brown Petrel (Taiko).

By A. REISCHEK, F.L.S.

[Read before the Auckland Institute, 27th July, 1885.]

THESE birds are found round the coast of New Zealand; I have seen them over a hundred miles from land, cruising about in a similar manner to, and in company with, the Albatross (Diomedea exulans), but they never go near enough to a vessel to be caught, nor do they pick up the food thrown overboard, as the Albatross does. This Petrel is gregarious, and I have seen them in large flocks together, resting on the water. Their power of flight is marvellous. In July, 1879, outside the Kaipara, on the west coast of North New Zealand, I had an opportunity of observing these birds, having to lay by outside the bar for several days, being unable to enter, as it was blowing one of the severest gales experienced in these seas; they cruised about, dipping the points of their wings at intervals in the water, then suddenly swooping down through the foaming waves for their prey; rising with the next wave, and repeating their former action. From July to November these birds are always out at sea. In November they come ashore to their breeding places, on the top of high and

steep mountains, which they choose for the purpose of easier flight, as they have difficulty in ascending from the level ground.

They are expert climbers; I saw them, by the aid of their sharp claws, their bill, and wings, climbing up trees out of the perpendicular, from whence they flew away. In November, 1882, on the eastern slope, and near the centre of the Little Barrier or Hauturu Island, situated north of Auckland, at about 2,300 feet above sea level, on a steep precipitous ridge, I noticed my dog repeatedly setting at burrows, which, on examination, I found contained Procellaria parkinsoni; they were cleaning out their old burrows; and, staying to observe, I noticed them digging with their bills, removing the earth by a backward motion of their feet, till the burrow was cleansed. In most cases I found them working, in others the burrows were clean and the refuse outside; some burrows in loose soil, others under the roots of trees and under stones, also in hollow trees. I have found them sometimes very far inland, always on the tops of mountains.

In December, 1884, on the Waitakerei Ranges, 1,000 feet above sea-level, and twelve miles from the ocean, I found the female sitting on an egg, nearly hatched. I measured several burrows of these birds, the entrance was from 8 to 12 inches in diameter, the depth from 1 to 2 feet, and the height about 1 foot. When they have finished cleaning out the burrows, which process male and female accomplish together, they remain quietly till the last rays of the sun have disappeared, then any one can hear them call, which is similar to the Black Swan (Cygnus atrata), and, on coming out, they stop a moment, pick up a few leaves or grass, and go back into the burrows; this they repeat several times, and always on entering the chamber they make a peculiar noise together. After dark both come out, rise and circle round, calling until they attract others, and when a large flock is assembled they fly away to their haunts on the ocean, returning before daylight. At this season, before they lay, they are very fat. When caught, on their return from the ocean, if they cannot protect themselves by scratching and biting, they expectorate a lot of oily matter on their assailant. The first time I caught one of these birds it treated me in this manner. As soon as they have finished building their careless nest, which is a deepening in the chamber, with a few leaves in it, the female lays one white egg about the size of that produced by a Brahma fowl. When the female lays, the male separates from her during the day, while she is hatching, and remains in a separate burrow of his own not far away. The first egg of the Procellaria parkinsoni I found on the 28th November, 1882, at the Little Barrier. After this date I found and examined several, but never found more than one egg or young in a nest, and the female always sitting on the egg.

I watched these birds by moonlight, and have seen the male come out of his burrow and fly away; returning after a time, and circling round in the air, he swooped down to the burrow of the female, striking the ground with a force that could be heard some distance. He stopped outside a little, then entered, and I heard a whimpering noise. After this a bird came out and flew away, returning after a time to the same burrow, and in a few minutes once again emerged and flew away; but returned before daylight, and using the same precaution on entering as before. Then one bird came out and went to the second burrow. I examined the burrow where this process was going on, and on putting my hand in it was severely bitten, which was repeated on my trying to lay hold of the bird, which drew back into the chamber. So I dug with a tomahawk till I reached where the bird was sitting, and tried to take the egg from under it, which I partially succeeded in doing, when I was again so severely bitten that I had to let it go. As soon as I did so, the bird with its bill rolled it back into the nest. I protected my hand, and then took the egg, which was quite fresh. My dog went to the bird, which attacked him furiously. On examination I found this was a female. I then went to the other burrow, where I saw the bird go in. This bird defended itself in the same plucky manner. There was no egg in this chamber, and on examination I found this bird was a male. About the end of December I found a female in a burrow, with one small chick covered with grey down, which she defended furiously. I have also found very young birds in January, even as late as April. As soon as the young

birds are a few days old, the parents leave them in the burrow from before sunrise till after sunset, while they go to seek food. On their return, they circle round the burrow as before, stopping at the entrance to call, which the young birds immediately answer. After entering they make a whimpering noise. The old birds leave and return several times in a night. Once or twice only have I found adult birds in the burrow during the day, when they had their young; the reason being that, not having left the burrow before daylight, they are afraid to leave till evening. If they find their burrows disturbed they will not go in.

The Natives are very careful, when taking the young Taikos, not to disturb the burrows. They make expeditions in May to the islands where these Petrels are breeding. In former times each tribe had their ground, which they visited every year, and defended obstinately against the intruder. The birds were taken out with a flexible stick, pointed at one end and split, which was pushed into the burrow till the bird was felt, when they twisted the stick round in the down and pulled out the bird gently; then bit the head, to kill it. They then took the bird's bill, to cut the skin under the crop, and pulled out the