"PRESERVING THE HUIA."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 411, 21 January 1909, Page 9

"PRESERVING THE HUIA."

Sir,—At the present time, when the work is proceeding of securing, or trying to secure, living specimens of. this remarkable and rapidly expiring o£ nativo bird for insular conservation, it seems to me to be extremely indiscreet of those.having control of tho work to give any such information for publication as that contained, in the attached clipping which lately went the' full round of the newspapers of the Dominion. It is, of course, not meant for. republication.. However, as we know that thoro are many mercenary collectors travelling about , the Dominion in ' search of the _ last living specimens procurable of tho liuia and other rare species of nativo birds, it is of the utmost importance for those .who', know to preserve silonce as to their present habitats until a sufficient number has been captured and securely, placed on tho insular bird sanctuaries. Lnpa'tieiice for the kudos or honour attached to such ,vory important work . should be rigidly suppressed until it be successfully accomplished. The increasing great demand for huia feathers has been, and is, the chief cause of the rapid disappearance of this unique and beautiful nativobird. I have previously suggested, and again, do so,.that the

Government should rigidly suppress the sale, i of huia' and all native bird-feathers;, m. order. ( ,l to prevent suclv nefarious traffic.- We':kftow , that, ninety-five Or more per cent., of.feathers; , sold by dealers.as those,'ofV,the. ; ■spurious, and' are: 'cliiofly,;.;'. l , , ifsi.^"-fJ , i r isS?i. •'■ feathers. Let anyone interested ; amine one eaoh- of these' feathcfs-Hhe real and the unreal—and they. v will; instantly;;.de,v ;; tect the striking difference,jn-their texture, ( form, tone of colour, and sheen. ... In .-those A of the huia,'even" though'•the;:,feathers are sometimes very old. the'ricH'sheen is clear; ( while in.the. "toned'' or.dyed turkey feathers it is very much duller,' or is altogether ab- ' sent. Wo also know that the demand for : real huia feathers "exceeds the' supply by : hundreds per cent. - I therefore think it is, : monstrous that such nefarious dealings.and : . ; practices ' should'be tolerated"'fori a' single"- " day in the Dominion..; Ifveifectively;;sup->; pressed, tho :demand iot': these charming'' birds would- almost cease, s which- would' en-; . able them to live on in their beautiful, forest 1 , haunts at least a few years'longer. To' thosehaving control of the work.of "preserving the; ■ huia" it should also be of the. greatest importance to' secure a,perfect -photograph of ■'• the huia birds, with their nest• and young msitu. It would.prove absolutely; unique-/-and"' orieof the most valuable ornithological sures the Dominion could •vpo'ssess.-^-I\'am)' etc.,' '.-'.-'•'. -->:.': ■ .:.-'-. ,-;-• w. .'W: smitb;;'^ New Plymouth, January'-15'.~' -.[-v-i. ':;>-' [The .clipping; referred to .:by''' , our^.:Corrfc:*' spondent is one which records the success of some Maori friends of Mr. A. Hamilton-in; procuring birds for' liberation oif,'an'.island off tho North Auckland; coastl].."'';.' '....,;