NATURE NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16895, 6 July 1918, Page 1 (Supplement)

NATURE NOTES.

BY J. DRTJMMQI.NT), F.L.S., I'.Z.S.

Mb. C. G. TuBNBR reports that Lake Guyon, which lies under the Spencer I Range, North Canterbury, is this year the home of six crested grebes. They seldom go further than 100 yds from the shore of the lake, but they dive very quickly, and remain under the surface of the water for a surprisingly long time. Apparently they have no fear of human beings, whom, on account of the strict protection observed, they need not regard a3 enemies. The nest, Mr. Turner states, is made in a hanging bush.over the edgo of the lake. It is very rough, and holds two eggs, which seem to be neglected for days. The young take to the water as soon as they ato hatched. The adults are neither wild nor tame, and usually keep out of range of any interference. Nii.e Canadian geese have been liberated on the lake, five last year. They come ashore frequently, and walk about with obvious unconcern. They are large, healthy, and strong, but do not readily take to the wing, although at least two have been seen at the Ada Station, ten miles away.

Forty-eight years ago Lake Guyon touched the boundary of a station occupied by the late Mr. W. T. L. Tiavcrs, an enthusiastic ornithologist, who wrote the best recount published of the crested grebe's habits. He said that tho nests on the lake were raised slightly above the surface of tho water. Each usually ljad three eggs, somewhat peculiarly shaped, as they seemed to thicken in the middle and taper towards both ends. Tho eggs when first laid had i chalky and slightly greenish hue, which soon becamo completely discoloured. Both male and femalo took part in the work of hatching the eggs, but tho female seemed to do most of it, and, apparently, was relieved by the male in order that she might seek food. The birds discriminated between persons who might be dangerous and those who were not. Tho children of Mr. Travers' manager often visited the nests during the hatching, but as they never interfered with the nests or the eggs they wero allowed to ■go near without the birds quitting. The parents, on leaving a nest, glided into the water with a quick, stealthy motion. They dived at once, and rose a considerable distance away.

Three eggs were thrown out of a nest, and were immersed in threo feet of water for twenty-four hours. One of the children replaced them, and the parent birds sat on them again, and two of the eggs produced chicks. When heavy rain caused the water of tho lake to rise, tho birds were seen busily collecting material to build up nests, in order to raise the eggs above the reach of the flood. When the water subsided the fresh material was spread out. Both parents were very solicitous in attending to the young. When the young were fatigued they took up a position on the parents' backs, immediately behind the insertion of the wings. The parents, to help the young, immersed themselves deeper in the water. A parent sometimes tried to shake a young bird off its back, and when the young showed a disinclination to leave, and resisted the attempt, the parent simply Bank into the water, and was relieved of the burden.

Mr. J. B. Lee, Waitakaro, Waipiro Bay, near East Cape, has been acquainted with the fauna near the Waiapu River for some twenty years. He has observed there the morepork owl, the whiteeye, the grey warbler, the tom-tit, the harrier, the sparrow-hawk, the native lark, the weka (rare), the pukeko (rare), the pectoral rail, tho swamp rail, the rifleman wren (found on the top of Mount Hikurangi, but rare), tho grey duck, liio bluo mountain duck, the dotterel, the- turnstoiie, the pigeon, tho kingfisher, the tui, the parrakeet, tho fern-bird or utick, the kaka, and several species of shags. Ho has been told by trustworthy people that the white-head, the crow, the dabchick, the bush-wren, and the saddleback also have been observed in the district. He was acquainted years ago with the turnstone, one of the birds that come from Siberia, and believes that he saw ono amongst some dotterels lecently, but he did not get near enough to be certain. He praises some native birds' songs. "I have not had the privilege of hearing the 'nightingale complaining to the rose,' nor Tennyson's ' mellow ouzel fluting in the elm,' " he writes; " but I have been awakened before daylight by the morning chorus of the bell-bird and the tui, and it was all Captain Cook said it was about 140 years ago. My favourite birdnote is the hearty, whole-souled, merry trill of the grey warbler. Two grey warblers honoured me last spring; by nesting in my climbing rose. It is hardly necessary to say that tho rose bush is not pruned. One of them already has inspected the site again. I hopo to gain my visitors' confidence sufficiently to allow me to learn something of their domestic affairs. In any case, I expect to hear many sweet songs by them."

I Referring to other life in the district, Mr. Lee says that the little brown rock lizard arid the green gecko, plentiful in former years, sewn to have disappeared. Ho believes that the tuatara may be found still on East Cape Island. 'Two species of eels are caught in all the streams of the district. A lamprey is reported from Hicks' Bay. A native bat may be seen occasionally flitting near the upper readies of the Waiapu River. A few years ago he usually spent his summer holidays on Whale Island, in tho Bay of Plenty. A small brown rat was very plentiful amongst the volcanic rocks of the island. He describes it as smaller than the ordinary Maori rat, but otherwise resembling it closely in everything except colour, which was identical with the colour of the Norway rat. At first he had a theory that Norway rats reached the island from vessels, that they became plentiful, overtook the food supplies on the restricted area, and, in time, their descendants became reduced in size; but he now thinks that these rats belong I to a distinct species. In tho interests of his feathered friends, he snares and poisons large numbers of rats on his property.

Canon H. T. -Purchas, vicar of Glenmark, North Canterbury, reports that before that district was opened for close settlement wekas were fairly plentiful amongst the- tussocks. When close settlement began, about twelve years ago, the wekas seemed to decline, but now they are coming about again. They often visit his garden at the vicarage. Whiteeyes steal his fruit, and he occasionally sees a kingfisher near the stream. Australian magpies arc well represented in the district. Aerial encounters between them and harrier hawks remind him of pictures and accounts of combats in the air above the battlefields. The magpies, with their direct attacks, seem to have an advantage over the hawks, which manoeuvre to get above their adversaries. It is found usually that where there are magpies there are lew hawks, and where there are hawks there are few magpies, but in some parts both species live together in amity, i