NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 22085, 19 July 1935, Page 3

NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB

HOLIDAY EXPERIENCES \ The evening devoted annually to holiday experiences and country members’ notes is always a popular one. Last Monday night was no exception. Members brought forward an interesting and entertaining variety of subject matter, and those present spent a very enjoyable evening. A country member sent observations on the bush at Puerua, South Otago. She says that it is interesting to note how different plants are distributed or confined to certain areas. In the whole Puerua Valley only two plants of Olearia fragrantissima have been noted. Just over the low range of hills which form one aide of the Puerua Valley are the remains of a bush in which Olearia fragrantissima forms the major part of the underscrub. In the Awakihi bush, about sis miles. nearer the east coast, Coprosma linariifolia is very plentiful, and very large, and 0. fragrantissima is entirely absent. Growing on a dry hillside were found plants of the juvenile form of parsonsia in flower. Regarding the birds in the district, she says that tomtits have a habit of disappearing completely for about . four-days after they have built their nest. It just takes about four days to build the nest, and Mrs Tomtit does all the work while Mr Tomtit sings to her. Fantails, on the contrary, share the toil of building. Mrs Tui does most of the nest building, but Mr Tui sometimes brings a little material to the next. Waxeyes, like red-polls, often build several nests near each other, forming a little colony, but tuis chase away any bird which, comes near their nests.

A full report of a trip to Kapiti Island, the bird sanctuary, was sent in by another country member. The island, at which one arrives by boat, and launch from Paraparaumu Beach, is 6J miles long, li miles wide, and its circumference is about 16 miles. In the evenings the peculiar crying calls of the little blue penguins are heard. They have their nests in the long grasses or tussocks, and try to hide from intruders oy burying their heads in the long grass. In climbing to the trig, 1,725 ft high, one passes along the stony beach, with outcrops of rock stretching into the sea witn blow-holes between. Further on, the old camp site of Te Fehi, who captured the island for Te RaUparaha, can be seen. At this spot opossum hunters have erected stone breakwinds. Our correspondent says that the holes of trap-door spiders could be seen on the track, one being perfect with beautiful hinged door. Being a bird sanctuary one is regaled by a chorus of bellbirds, the notes of tuis; the noisy cry of a kaka flying overhead} the chuckling notes of the red-fronted -parrakeets as they feed on the fruit of the native passion fruit; the cheery warble of the tomtit; the laughing notes of the fantails; .the gay chipping of the white-heads (the North Island bush canaries), and the pleasant whirring of the wings, of wood pigeons Wood hens were roaming about, and one friendly bird ate bread from the outstretched hands of Mr Wilkinson, the caretaker of the island. Above the hush line one could see the steep cliffs of the opposite side of the island. The cliffs consist of rotten ’ rock descending almost sheer down to the sea. On the last steep slope to the trig deep couch grass is encountered, and the wind proved rather cold; Another excursion of interest was made to the north end of Kapiti, where the Maori family of Webber lives.- There, in the garden, are two shrubs of li.biscus growing in the open. These plants had come from Rarotonga—one, a small plant with a beautiful flaming red blossom, the other a fine shrub, bearing large pink blooms. Before leaving the island for home, bird lovers had been fortunate enough to see the dainty native robin alighting on tree stumps and with head bn one side, regarding his strange visitors. .Of holiday experiences, tne club’s trip to Pounawea at Easter time was the first to be heard. Five members gave items of interest under the headings: ‘ Outline of the Trip,’ ‘ Geological Nature of the District,’ ‘ The Pounawea Bush,’ ‘ Curio Hunting,’ and ‘Photographs Taken of Pounawea.’ The last-mentioned were shown on the lantern and refreshed memories of happy days at Easter time. The joys of the sea and beach at Karitane were the highlights of another member’s holidays. Fishing, swimming, and hunting in rock pools and on the beaches can give a fascinating holiday. Far from the sea breezes was the member who spent such a delightful time in the Mount Cook regions. This trip was beautifully illustrated with snaps of the Hooker and Tasman Valleys. On the far side of the Southern Alps yet another member camped. This camp was in Westland, 30 miles north of Greymonth, at the mouth of the Porarairi t River. Beautiful specimens of the nikau palms were shown in photographs taken on the trip. One specimen was over 50ft high and probably over 200 years p]d. The strange pan-

cake rocks of Punakaiki were clearly seen in another of the snaps. Further afield were tho experiences of a member on a cruise around the Islands in the Marama. At Suva the water palms or travellers’ palm were seen. They are like a huge flat fan, 20 dr more feet high and at least as wide. They grow mostly, in desert places, and if one feels thirsty a “leaf” is cut off and cool water is obtained from its stem. At Vanau, in the Tongan Islands, a launch trip was made down the beautiful harbour and a visit paid to the Swallows Cave, which is a wonderful place. The cave has a small opening, but inside there was plenty of room for the 10 small boats. The cave has a high vaulted roof, and the sunlight coming through the small opening seemed to strike the water and be thrown up to the roof of the cave where it flickered in all colours of the rainbow, but mostly a deep blue. High up in the roof were swallows’ nests. On the island of Nukualofa the bananas were in flower. Cream, waxy flowers were hanging at the end of the tiny bananas, and over each layer or bunch was a large purple leaf, which seemed to be protecting the baby bananas from the heat of the sun.

Many interesting photos and exhibits were on view, and a vote of thanks was accorded those who had taken part. ‘