seen the following year, but with no young ones, and there the record ceases1.

Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus)

The only attempt to introduce this species was made in 1897, when the Wellington Society, in conjunction with the Canterbury, Nelson and other societies, had a shipment made in London; but all died on the way out.

Pointed-tailed Grouse (Pediacetus columbianus)

The Auckland Society introduced 22 from Utah in 1876, and they were liberated at Piako. There is no further record concerning them.

Family RALLIDÆ

Australian Coot; Murray Coot (Fulica australis)

The Auckland Society introduced two in 1869, but it is not stated what was done with them.

Sir Walter Buller in the Supplement to The Birds of New Zealand (p. 75), describes this as an addition to the fauna, as follows:

I have to add to the list of New Zealand birds the Australian Coot, a specimen of which was killed in July, 1889, at Lake Waihoia in Otago. There is no record of this species having been brought alive from Australia, and, even if it had been, it is difficult to see how it could have reached that remote district.

The species is evidently an occasional visitant from Australia. A second specimen was taken at Kaitangata in May, 1919, and a third at Mataura Island in July, 1919.

1 In a book of newspaper cuttings belonging to the late Mr A. M. Johnson of Opawa, I found a paragraph taken probably from some Christchurch paper. It is without date, but from the date of some of the adjoining paragraphs, it was probably about 1871. I reproduce the paragraph, as it is interesting in this connection: "In a recent issue we republished from the Argus a paragraph stating that some grouse had been successfully brought out from Norway by a Mr Graff, who purposes bringing them on to Otago. A correspondent of the Hobart Town Mercury writes on the subject as follows:- Mr Jalmar Graff, a young engineer, who has arrived by the emigrant ship 'Eugine,' has brought with him from his native place, Frederickshald, in Norway, two pairs of black grouse, a game bird better known to Englishmen as the black cock or moorfowl of the Highlands of Scotland. Because of this bird's peculiar and solitary habits of life, and the fact that it feeds almost entirely on heather, berries and such like food, no attempt had hitherto been made to remove them alive to any distance from their mountain home, much less across the ocean. The grouse were taken as eggs in the wood, and hatched by a common hen. Afterwards they were brought into a cage without a bottom, and every day this was moved on the grass. At first they were fed on ants' eggs, bilberries and red whortleberries, latterly or barley, herbage and birchen-nobs. On the voyage (5 months) they had barley, peas, maize and cabbage. No one else has, to my knowledge, succeeded in hatching and rearing grouse in Norway, and I believe this is the first successful experiment."" I may add that these birds never came to Otago.

T. N. Z.

9

Australian Land Rail (Hypotaenidia philippinensis)

The Otago Society introduced a pair of them in 1867; but there is no further record of them.

Order CHARADRIIFORMES

Family CHARADRIIDÆ

Golden Plover (Charadrius pluvialis)

In 1875 R. Bills brought out some of these birds for the Canterbury Society, and they were apparently among the birds sold and distributed. There is no further mention of them.

The Wellington Society introduced four in 1877, but there is no further record of them.

The Otago Society made an attempt to introduce the species in 1897. Out of 22 birds originally caught, only five reached the ship's side at London. Two were landed at Dunedin and were liberated at Clifton, but at once disappeared.

Seebohm says of this species that

it breeds in the north temperate and Arctic regions, including the British Islands. Some remain in South Europe to winter, but the majority appear to pass on to North Africa, a few migrating during the winter season as far as South Africa. The Asiatic birds winter in Beloochistan, some of them probably crossing Arabia into Africa.

Lapwing; Green Plover; Peewit (Vanellus cristatus)

The Auckland Society in 1872 liberated 36, but nothing more was ever heard of them. Another attempt was made in 1875, when 36 more were shipped for Auckland; only four were landed and three of them died soon after.

The Canterbury Society obtained nine (imported by Mr C. Bills) in 1873, and liberated them, but they were not seen again.

The Otago Society purchased 36 birds in 1897, managed to ship 22, and only landed five in Dunedin. These were liberated at Clifton, and were seen flying about the fields for some time; then they disappeared.

In 1900, 50 birds were purchased, only 14 were shipped in London, and eight arrived in Dunedin. In the following year it is reported that "no young birds have been seen. Those liberated on Goodwood Estate did not survive many days, and some of their skeletons were picked up soon after they were liberated, the birds having been killed either by weasels or by hawks."

The Government introduced a lot in 1904. Of these 35 were handed over to the Wellington Society, and were liberated, but nothing more was heard of them. The Westland Society received

30, which "were liberated on the Upper Kohatahi. They all took wing and landed on the opposite side of Doctor's Creek." Apparently that was the last seen of them.

Apparently also a number were liberated in the Auckland district, for Mr Drummond, writing in the Lyttelton Times of 4th January, 1913, states that

a few lapwings were liberated in the Auckland district in 1870, and information supplied to me in 1907 shows that the effort was successful in several northern districts. The experiment has given great satisfaction to the settlers. The birds are credited with killing large numbers of wireworms and grubs in the spring.

I think Mr Drummond was misinformed by his correspondents, who were probably writing about some other bird, for on 2nd October, 1915, he asks: "has anybody seen a lapwing in New Zealand during the past ten years?'

The Auckland Society reported in 1909, that “the Green Plover has disappeared."

This species is a partial migrant in Britain; some nesting there, others only wintering there, and spending their nesting season in Northern Continental and Central Europe.

Grey Plover; Australian Plover (Squatarola helvetica)

The Otago Society liberated two in 1867, which were not seen again. In 1881 they obtained eight more, which were liberated on the Lauder Station, Manuherikia. They were observed for some time afterwards, and one was shot by mistake. Then they disappeared altogether.

The grey plover is only a spring and autumn migrant in the British Islands; it breeds within the Arctic Circle, and passes through Central and Southern Europe on migration, wintering in South Africa, India, South China, the islands of the Malay Archipelago, and Australia. In the western hemisphere it is known to winter in Cuba and some parts of South America.

Australian Curlew (Numenius cyanopus)

The Canterbury Society received two of these birds from Australia in 1868, but there is no record of what was done with them.

Family PTEROCLIDÆ

Sand Grouse (Pterocles bicinctus)

The Wellington Society received two from Mr Hamilton (of Teneriffe) in 1892, but there is no other record.

Pintail Sand Grouse (probably Pterochlurus alchatus)

The Otago Society in 1882 liberated eight at the foot of the Rock and Pillar Range; they were not seen again.

Family COLUMBIDÆ

Crested Bronze-wing Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes)

The Wellington Society introduced four of these birds in 1876, and eight more in 1877. They were seen for some months afterwards, and then disappeared.

The Canterbury Society in 1883 received six from the Melbourne Zoological Gardens; but there is no further record of them.

The Auckland Society introduced ten in 1887, of which five were liberated, one died, and four were retained for breeding purposes.

Bronze-wing Pigeon (Phaps chalcoptera)

The Canterbury Society received two pairs from Mr Wilkin in 1864, and introduced four more in 1867. They appear to have bred and increased in the Gardens (there were six in the aviary in 1880), for in 1882 it is reported that "the Murrumbidgee pigeons turned out by the Society have been seen, and are apparently doing well." Again in 1883: "the bronze-wing pigeons from the Murrumbidgee Mountains have been seen lately in one of the numerous patches of bush on the Peninsula, at a considerable distance from where they were liberated." In 1884 the Society received 20 birds from the Melbourne Zoological Society. I can find no further record after this date; they seem to have been exterminated.

The Otago Society introduced six in 1867. Mr F. Deans says: they were liberated about the Gardens (Dunedin) and probably got killed by cats."

The Nelson Society introduced some in 1867, but there is no further record of them.

The Auckland Society received six from Mr Jas. Williamson in 1867; these were liberated at Kaipara. Some more were introduced in 1869, but none of them was ever heard of again.

The Wellington Society received two Tasmanian birds from Mr Meredith, but the date is not given. There were two reared at the Game Farm in the Wairarapa in 1907; but there is no further record.

Harlequin Bronze-wing Pigeon (Phaps histrionica)

The Auckland Society introduced two of these birds from Adelaide in 1869. There is no further record.

Wonga-Wonga Pigeon (Leucosarcia picata)

The Canterbury Society received two pairs from Mr Wilkin in 1864, and four more in 1871, from Mr R. B. Johnstone. These were apparently kept for breeding in the aviaries, for in 1872 they had still eight birds. In 1883 seven more were received. There is no record as to whether they were liberated or not, and no further mention of them.

Mr E. F. Stead writes me (April, 1916):

In the early 90's Mr Peter Cunningham introduced some from Australia to Rockwood, his station near Whitecliffs. I can remember three or four pairs running about the garden there; they rarely flew. But they have all gone. The presence of the weasels would preclude the possibility of establishing them here.

Some were introduced into Nelson in 1867, but I cannot learn what came of them.

The Auckland Society received two pairs in 1868 from Mr Dacre, and in 1870 two more pairs from Sir Julius Vogel. There is no record of what was done with them.

The Otago Society introduced 12 in 1869, but they were kept too long in the aviaries, where many died. The remainder were liberated in the upper part of the Gardens, but were apparently too tame, and were killed by cats.

The Wellington Society imported 12 in 1875, and 22 in 1876. It is not stated where they were liberated, but they were seen for some considerable time afterwards, and some were reported from Wainuiomata. They were not reported again, and apparently completely disappeared.

Ring Dove (Turtur risorius)

These birds have been commonly imported by dealers at all the chief ports for the last 40 or 50 years, and passing into the hands of private individuals, were in many cases liberated round homesteads and dwellings. The Canterbury Society kept them for years in their aviaries. The first pair were imported about 1866. In some reports they are called "Ring-doves," in others, "Turtle-doves."

The Nelson Society introduced some of these birds in 1867. The Auckland Society received five "doves" from Mr Jas. Williamson in 1867; probably this bird.

Mr E. F. Stead writes: “there is a fairly large number of ringdoves in the (Christchurch) domain. People have turned them out in their gardens in various parts of the city, and they stop about and do fairly well, but do not seem to increase." The same is true of suburban gardens about Dunedin.