WAYS OF THE WILD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 99, 29 April 1933, Page 1 (Supplement)

WAYS OF THE WILD.

A COASTAL CRUISE.

HABITAT OP BABE PI/ANT,

(By A. T. PYCROFT.)

The -writer, accompanied by Mr. A. 13. Deeming and Mr. L. Donaldson, of Opua, recently left the Bay of Islands in Mr. Deeming's launch for a cruise towards Whangarei. A strong soutli-cast gale had raised a long swell, hut when we left the bay a moderate south-westerly wind prevailed. Taking an almost direct course from Tapeka Point, outside of Russell, and through a narrow passage inside Red Head Island, we reached Cape Brett. Bird life was not plentiful during the run, a few fluttering and Buller's shearwaters being seen. Upon rounding the cape we set a course for Tutukaka Harbour, wliero we overnight. A few fluttering and fleshfooted shearwaters were seen. The latter bird is well known to yachtsmen and fishermen in the Hauraki Gulf, where it is called mutton bird. The flesh-footed shearwater is a sooty blacK. bird with a yellowish bill and fleshcoloured feet. It is the largest of the shearwaters, the name shearwater referring to the bird's habit of skimming low over the waves or shearing the water. Tutukaka was left before dawn the following day, our destination being the Hen and Chickens Islands, 15 miles south-east of Wliangarei Heads. The Hen island was first visited, and_ when anchoring on the southern side the wellknown notes of the saddleback were heard and several pigeons were seen. The pigeon visits the various islands in quest of ripe berries, which constitute its principal food, and I am of the opinion that the harrier hawk flies from the mainland. Three pipits, or ground larks, were seen as we approached the island, their course also suggesting that they had come from the mainland. The writer first landed at this spot JO years age, and felt among old friends upon entering the bush and seeing many of the familiar giant pohutukawas, puriris, and other trees. The familiar notes of the saddleback, tui, and bellbird were predominant, while now and again would be heard the harsh call of a kaka. Petrels Heard Only at Night. As our anchorage was not comfortable, owing to a roll from the westerly wind, and the knowledge that if the wind veered to the south during the night we should have to njove, it was decided to do so before dark to the northern side of the island, where two "anchors were put out, the bottom being of boulders. Petrels were heard 1 and seen at dusk as they returned from the sea to clean out their burrows or make fresh ones, the time of our visit being that when such duties begin for those species which are winter breeders. Most of the islands lying off the Cast coast of New Zealand are the breeding places of different species of petrels, one species or another occupying the islands throughout the year. Sometimes there is an overlapping caused by a species requiring the burrow before the chick of the preceding species lias vacated it.Tlie order Procellariifonnes, or petrel-;, includes the families of diving petrels, shearwaters, storm petrels, or Mother Carey's chickens, and the various species of albatrosses. This order constitutes the largest order of sea birds, and all excepting members of the albatross family and two species of surface breeding petrels make burrows, in which I the single white egg is laid. The young are left in the burrows by the parents after reaching varying ages, according to the species. They continue in the burrows, living on their accumulated fat until they have grown feathers, when they come out and fly away. It was decided to try and ascend the steep scrub-covered northern cliff face the following morning to observe the birds and plants. Care had to be exercised not to dislodge any of the many loose stones, some being held up by roots, and many trees higher up showed large wounds caused by the falling stones crashing against them. Higher up the ascent was easier, but at the start hand holds on roots were necessary for some distance. The highest point at this part of the island was slightly over 800 ft above sea level, and our launch' directly beneath us looked like a toy. A tu&tara was seen near the summit, the first the writer has seen on this island, which he has visited many times. Tuataras are frequently seen on the Chicken Islands, about five miles to the north. Several species of land snails were see alive, notably the kauri snail. Parydlianta busbyi, although popularly called the kauri snail, this specios u often found where no kauri exists. No kauris or other conifers are present on the Hen and Chickens Islands. Rliytida tarangaensis is another species seen alive. This snail is a member of a genus widely distributed throughout New Zealand, although the Hen Island, Poor Knights, and Cavalli have separate species, showing a lengthy separation from the mainland to cause separate characteristics. A Rare Plant, Xeronema, Plentiful. The westerly wind had moderated sufficiently the following day to enabkus to anchor at that end of the island facing the mainland. There are. several rock shelters in the interior of the island where the, Maoris had dwelt many years ago. Sea shells, including some from the mainland, were seen. Remains of fires, such as charred sticks and pieces of charcoal, and of obsidian, or volcanic glass, all proved past occupation. Also there remains as evidence that the land was,cultivated, masses of large and small stones, some in rows and others in orderly heaps. While ' examining one of these rock shelters I saw on the ground dried leaves of that rare flax-like plant Xeronema, and above us on the rock face huge masses were seen growing even more luxuriantly than on the Poor Knights Islands, 25 miles north of Hen Island. Like the plants on the Poor Knights, the Hen Island plants do not grow on the sea cliff faces or in the forest, but wenseen on the exposed rocky faces of the interior, where from a distance it was no doubt formerly mistaken for flax. Large masses had at some time become detached from the rock face and were rotting on the forest floor beneath. Xeronema callisteinon was previously known only from the Poor Knights Islands, where it was first found in 1924 and described by Oliver in volume 56 of the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute. Oliver remarks that Xeronema consists of two species, one in New Caledonia, the other in New Zealand. The discovery of Xeronema adds another species to uu interesting group which allies the flora and fauna of New Zealand to that of New Caledonia.