THREATENED BIRDS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 111, 12 May 1911, Page 2

THREATENED BIRDS.

COMMERCIAL COLLECTORS STILL ACTIVE. A NOTE ON KAPITI. A well-known authority on New Zealand's birds remarked fco a Post representative to-day that he had Teason to believe that commercial collecting of specimens was still occurring, in spite of the prohibition of a practice which has threatened the extinction of certain rare species. It seems that the hunter goes where raiders' eyes do not see him at his sordid work, and it is also thought that much killing of birds is done by persons who are still ignorant of the alteration effected in the law last session. The la^V is* now more drastic for the birds' sake, but in some districts the kind intention of Parliament has r ' 'wrought much comfort to harried ares of the bush, jit is urged that tno authorities should help to make the new law more widely known by posting up notices at railway stations and some other gublic places. Discussing Kapiti, io-day's critic said he did not agree with the Hon. D. Jsuddo's remark that this island was- an excellent sanctuary for native birds. Kapiti, added the speaker, was suitable enough from some viewpoints, but it had such a configuration that it could not possibly be effectively controlled In all its parts bj a caretaker. There were many places, especially at the southern end, where a landing could be made from a small steamer or launch, and tho rarer birds could be shot and taken away before any caretaker could possibly know anything about it. The effect of placing the casily-killable birds on -that island would be to study the convenience of poachers, and to bring into a handy place the prey which they sought. A Post caller at the Museum to-day got the news that Mr. Hamilton was still hopeful of securing some live huia3. The next search is to be on the eastern side of the Ruahines, and arrangements for the quest are being made. In the meantime, Mr. Hamilton is • able to show a beautiful pair of stuffed specimens, obtained from an English collection. . The new arrivals are superior to those that hdve been on view in the Museum.