TO THREE KINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 39, 15 February 1934, Page 8

TO THREE KINGS.

SCIENCE EXPEDITION.

PARTY LEAVING AUCKLAND. COMPLETE SURVEY PLANNED. A number of scientists from the various centres in New Zealand will leave on a research expedition by the auxiliary ketch Will Watch next Saturday with the intention of making a survey of tlie lliree Kings l»lanu.s. Ihe islands were occupied in tae time of Xasman by .\luorirj,-<jb ut for the past 100 years ur so tiiere have been no inhabitants. A brief visit made recently disclosed evidence of tiie early occupation, but, apart from botanical research, no work has been done on the island. The present expedition hopes to gather interesting data on tlie remains and to carry out very necessary geological and biological surveys. JSlr. K. A. Falla, ornithologist at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, will continue his research 011 the migratory wading birds, .Mr. Falla returned this week from work at Lake KlLesmere, where he was assisted by Mr. E. 1. Stead, well-known Christchurch naturalist. Their observation further established tlie theory advanced by Mr. Stead many years ago that rare "stragglers" joined the godwit on their long migratory flights from Siberia. Evidence of sanderling and woodcock among the godwit was found. The birds are now assuming their rich chestnut breeding plumage in place of) the drab, grey plumage of the non-breeding period. They are preparing to leave 011 their long flight at the end of March. Continuation of Research. While on the Will Watch expedition Mr. Falla will have an opportunity of further studying waders in the North, particularly at Parengarenga, a popular feeding ground for the birds before they leave. There he hopes to find further evidence of other species which have joined in with the godwit flights. The scientists who will be on board the Will Watch, in addition to Mr. Falla, include Professor J. A. Bartrnm, professor of geology at the Auckland University College, Mr. W. K. B. Oliver, director of the Dominion Museum at Wellington, Mr. A. W. B. Powell, conchologist at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Other scientists and private people interested in natural history have not yet finalised arrangements for the trip. There will be about 12j members of the expedition who will take part in the research and collecting of specimens. Captain G. H. George will be in charge of the vessel. In addition to his study of the wading birds, Mr. Falla will draw up a report on the birds that exist on the Three Kings Islands. The islands were recently gazetted as a sanctuary, and it is desired to know what rare birds are being so preserved. He will also endeavour to establish the identity of a species of quail that is said to live on the islands. It is thought that it may be a native of New Zealand similar to the species that once existed on the mainland, but now extinct. Expedition's Equipment. Scientific equipment similar to that carried on the British research ship Discovery If. will be taken for marine exploration. This branch of the work will be undertaken by Mr. Powell. Three dredges of different types arc included — one for sea shells lying on shallow, sandy bottoms, another for small shellfish on the sea bed, and a special conical dredge for very deep work. Other apparatus includes an instrument for cutting out a portion of the sea bed and bringing it to the surface without disturbing the marine life on it. Large cases full of glass jars are ready at the museum for loading on the Will Watch. A clear glass tank is to be taken, into which live specimens of marine life can be placed, and so photographed in their natural state. Mr. Powell hopes to find specimens of a large land snail believed to exist on the Three Kings Islands. Only 50 specimens of this large shellfish, which lives on the land and feeds on vegetation, are known to exist. It is some four inches long, with a turreted or elongated body, protected by a hard shell. It is restricted to these islands, and has not been found in any other part of the world. Unlike the somewhat similar mainland species, it lays but one egg a- year. This is unusually large, sometimes being half an inch long. It is oval in shape, and has a shell of almost the same composition as that of a bird. Its single egg it buries in the soft earth and covers with decomposed leaves. These generate the heat which hatches the egg.

The expedition is expected to be away about 12 days, but tbat will depend to a large extent on the suitability of the weather.