NATURE NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15504, 10 January 1914, Page 5 (Supplement)

NATURE NOTES.

BY JAKES DEt7MMOSr», T.L.S., F.Z.S.

Aires Bessie Gaiidiner, writing on November 24, states tliat a shining cuckoo was seen in a garden at Purauy Lyttelton Harbour, on November 4, and later, flying from tree to tree. "It seemed to be very tame," she writes, ■"and we : could approach to within four'or five yards of it.' It frequently gave a long whistle. All who saw it considered that it was a young bird." From Crushitigton, fifty miles north-east of Greymouth, Mr. R. W, Raithby reports the arrival of. the longtailed cuckoo on November 15. " I think that these birds are later this year Chan' they were last year," he says. t "Judging' by their notes they are not so plentiful this year. At first the plaintive cry. was somewhat feeble and apologetic;' but

now, December 7, seems to be more assured. During the rainy evening it is specially loud; I presume that this is why this cuckoo is called the 'rain bird,' a. name which it has earned, as in the day and' evening it is greatly in .evidence -during rain, as far as its cry isJeoircerned at least. The boys here also ; eaH it the

'squeaker.' The fagus trees,here are-very dense, and it is impossible to see. tbis'bird unless it flies out of the trees." Mr. Raithby also mentions the-ventriloquial-qualities in the long-tailed cuckoo's voice, which have been fully described by Dr; R.Fulton, of Dunedin, in his papers on thatwo species of New Zealand ceckobs in the

"Transactions" of the New Zealand In-' stitute. The shining cuckoo is reported from Tongaporutu, Taranafii, by " Mr. A. Cox, who calls it the footballer—a name it has -received on. account;- of ;.tha,striges„Da, its plumageand the summerxbjrd describes it briefly .-adequately, as '"aj bird of extreme beauty." " - .'.-'' ■'.'." '

To the discussion on the mig-ratiohsipf'. eels, evidently there is.no end..'..Mr. '.A* E. Brookes,, of Mount Albert,.? Auckland*/ has sent ' a record of his; investigations.-He-writes:" This seems to! be rather. ai_ difficult problem to solve—not so much - migration as the vexed question Whether' eels breed in the ocean or/in^the'' rivers* and lakes. It- is on record in .the f.Eri- ; cyclopaedia. Britannica,'. volume"27, -page l; 685, that gravid females occasionally" liava ; - been taken in fresh' water, bnt r there is nodoubt : that, normally, sexual' maturity' 'is' attained in, the sea.only (?) : I have "pufea qaery to this' after : having; made soma J notes * of. facts, which cams under my; observation a.few years ag/, when! Was'afeLannceston, Tasmania. There: was-a flour-'. millithere, worked by water-power. The water .was brought down to the mill in a ■ Wooden flunle " from a, place above 1 the- i ' cataract ; on: the . South f. Esk«River. .~ >' Ths, ' flumet was : about ,20ft above , the riven*.' below: the cataract/ and was -supportedfrom the side of "the gorge onwooden.studs*. and struts. ' Esk join; ; ami then the waters 4it6[ika(hm,:.. as'tha Tamar River. While^T was sitt&g.; :' on the banks of! that river mycatt.enti.ons. % was drawn to water escaping,* tot the;:floor of the race being out of>repaj?^: :: i the the bank to ; ■ join the river about 40ft away.- On seye* ral: occasions I saw a ; wriggling motj%.;in , the/shallow water, and on investiri,ting;,ib;. .: I' found -that the water ', was simply -teeming with 1 countless young eels, from/: foue inches six inches long, -I-; believe that, it was v absolutely ■■■ impossible.,•for- thoses; • young eels to ascend the cataract,|npOpimention the negotiation ; oi' flue above; to -the 'basin. ' • : AppsjehSyi Cthey? we're not' strong enough to withsfend-Jha. current at the intake, and-.consequently! were" swept down the flume, ; .JE haver, no"doubt, that the' young: eels- were hatchecj. out 'in the upper waters of the; river and were: going," involuntarily, on .■■.their.-:' way" to the sea for the first' time in their; ijve'si 1.-■■ Mr. DnMcpll; writes from the Spa, Tanpo," .;, stating that his experience of • New ' Zealand shows that they dojjot go. jdqwnV to'the sea to: spawn, '■••..' \_.:. " ■'.':'.':' ■' ■;... '~. IT 1 ;:' - ■"-..,'■., V:^ ■*■•- xVi,-. ~ ':": J -:" ;^' . Erom ICew.'Ptyomuth on November 25V Mr. F.. P. Corkili < wrote :— -SomeVsevent or eight weeks ago one of my noticed a fantail'snest in course of: qpjatrnctipain ; an; arbutus. " We watehedjlis complex tion, and in due time a brood; was hatched; out and fledged. ' I was.- surprised "the; - other day to. see the nest ag|& : !; presumably by • the same . gaM,vatid;T aow£ the hen bird, is once more sitting -oloselyV '•' lb this a, common occurrence.? ;..' Such;.aithing hag not come under- .iay.;,phsemtion:'; before." .On December 13 against. - —"Since my; previous letter .was-gent % | have had .further opportunities of observe/" ing the fantails' doings.' -Ten ago' the male. bird was" flitting about -;.withi three young ones, while the.ton waslsjt-i. ■ ting on the nest. " Yesterday , the hen was apparently 'mothering' the second brood,-,'!' It was a wet and stormy; day, ; and;shW ', was spread over the top. of-the:7ie6fe.ss if/ \~\ to v keep the \ weather f off "the'..'unfledged; ■: family. My boys have irpframe'd?**rplfa $(s•»'\ H turbing the nest, but we are able/ to'-seo • what is going on by looking, downwards.: from an upper- path, at a distance if about, 25ft. The nest will, be: tssswwA faftefft the tenants have quitted."' ■-•'zr.^s i'i ::.';' ' - '- Mr. W„ N. Wright, of Bahotu, .Tj.ra- .'■■] naki,. seeks ■ an, explanation of. ihe-iacfc- ' that although starlings tac'r I under and inside .'the'.rc^s-cofilianant;' I dwellings, they v are too txm.d to.ieedinearv l.a main ; road. At present en account "of !a" nest s6me'-u>f; these ■serw '•-'.' useful birds,have' made his.'iea'd.' A* ' few. days ago lie>top£ed .hotel;.i» ' ; {district,, where huhdiedsi iof starlings were : nesting underifbe roof i' * But. they, are' never seen his front • padif ■" dock, which is alongside' Hain .South Road, and, consequently, -the grass-griib-is very active there. is;daiext : ' December 11, and he says a—-''The' green?- ; and bronze beetles of tnfepeitfera^n^lMi/ : : fmg, and seem to be . equal-hi regard; t» numbers. There . are > whitish-grey.-.grub-, and,the cream-coloured grub, but I.do hob know the colour* of the .beetles" they pro--duce respectively. This pest is? spreading at a. most alarming rate. The Agricultural Department will have to try ha., discover a grass that is immune ' from this insect's mischievous activity. At., present, only paspalum and rat-tail seem to be.able to beat it,.but I should be only, too, pleasedi to see it completely destroy the- latter*. What, also, can i be done with woodVlicai or slaters? They, seem to- devour every-« thing, and they are : spreading lika. wild* fire. One writer has complained that. they, eat all his rhubarb, and myu girls .state-, that these creatures eat all the young: flowers in the garden.- I, see them now under every stone in the paddocks.. Tha. ants are the . coming. scourge. -They -kill any fowl that eits them, and I,do.nctf know of any means of destroying theia.'^.-

Freeh information' in regard to the cbri* signment of robin redbreasts trough* td Otago in December, 1855, ife supplied by Mr. J. McClelland, of -Pollen Street,Thames. He was a passenger - by - *''tier ' Shaw-Savill vessel, which brought eignment, and, he states that the : feird*stood the voyage very well,: few. v «fctftein- : . dying. He never, saw or heard of tbejn afterwards. On the same? vessel' there ' ■ were several hedgehogs and -i pair H.of V nightingales, but he .thinks;, that;. ft* " nightingales died during the-voyage,;' ■:«%*