NATURE NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21130, 12 March 1932, Page 1 (Supplement)

NATURE NOTES.

THE LIMESTONES.

BY J. nrtUMMONI), F.L.S.j F.Z.S.

Carved by Nature into massive buttresses and pinnacles, and provided with caves and underground passages, the white or greyish-white crystalline limestone that outcrops three miles east of Whangarei has been well named the .Abbey Rocks. They hold probably several million tons of limestone, and silently bear witness of a very remote time when there lived in the sea at that place innumerable small creatures whose shells have been converted into solid rock.

Most limestone is derived from the remains of limy creatures or plants. In some cases, particular kinds of creatures were the builders-up of the rock. An illustration of this may be seen at the east end of romantic Spirits' Bay, where an outcrop of limestone is crowded with the remains of barnacles and their allies. Limestone Island, in Whangarei Harbour, is composed almost completely of sandy limestone. With an area of ninety-three acres, it is estimated to contain 30,000,000 tons of workable cement rock. There is notable limestone at The Castles, five miles south of Bainham, near Collingwood. The Amuri limestone, forming high cliffs on the coast of North Canterbury, makes a beautiful white lock compact in texture.

Most limestones arc derived from sediments laid down in the sea. In New Zea-, land, as in many other parts of tlic world, rhany marine limestones are composed of globigerina ooze, a term every geologist is familiar with. Originally, at the bottom of deep seas, it was ooze filled with the microscopically small shells of foraminiI'era called globigerina, one-fortieth of an inch in diameter. They lived near the'surface, died, decayed, and their homes fell in shelly showers to the bottom. The lloor of the sea becoming dry land, the ooze formed limestone rock, to be used perhaps for roads, buildings, and other purposes in this highly practical and work-a-dav "world. It is estimated that the globigerina ooze covers tens of thousands of square miles of the ocean floor.

Nummulitic limestone is another example of limestone formed by almost a single group of creatures. As the Numniulites made shells like discs or coins, they were given a title derived from the Latin word " Nummarius," referring to money. Like the globigerina, they belonged to the foraminifera, but while the globigerina were dwarfs, 'the Nummulites were the giants of their race, some of them being half an inch in diameter. Nummulitic limestone is not found in NewZealand ; but without it some of the great pyramids of Egypt might nof have been built.

Some • exquisite pieces of New Zealand scenery owe their charm to limestone rocks. Limestone may be said to have been given an important part in this country's foundations, and to have largely helped its progress and prosperity. Among the splendid publications of the New Zealand Geological Survey, the bulkiest deals with the Dominion's limestones, their extent, distribution, uses and quality. Wider in scope and view, yet richer in details, is a recent book, " Limestones," by Dr. F. J. North, Keeper of the Department of Geology in the National Museum of Wales. It brings up to date all information on limestones possessed bv geologists, and shows the economic importance of limestones. They may be used as~ a buildingstone, as a roadstone, for making cement, lime and mortar, for extracting iron and other metals from the ores, and in making glass, chemicals, soap and artificial silk, playing a part in almost every branch of industry. The world owes a great deal to the small creatures that in some cases bequeathed their remains to this excellent purpose. Dr. North's book is a valuable contribution to knowledge, a handsome addition to any library of a useful character. A copy has been sent by the publishers, Messrs. T. Murbv and Co., Fleet Lane, London, who have printed, illustrated and bound the volume handsomely.

While sitting near the edge of native bush iti Mangonui County, North Auckland, Mr. E. T. Frost- saw an adult tui and A young one feeding on the top of a large rimu loaded with ripe berries. The adult occasionally uttered the ringing notes that only tuis can utter. A kingfisher had a nest in a hollow tree immediately below. Its sharp eyes soon delected the human intruder, and it flew close to his head, with a warning screech. When the stranger sat down the kingfisher was not perturbed, but it noticed every alteration of position he made in order to watch the tuis, and it immediately warned him off.

Mr. Frost suddenly saw in the adult tui a fresh movement. A few minutes later he discovered the reason. Silently a kaka had appeared in the tree. It busily helped itself to the berries. The tui was not ready to share its meal. With a quick flutter of its wings it darted at its uninvited guest, which, at the time, was head downward on the end of a slender branch. Hopping on to a stout branch, it sat and waited the attack. For about five minutes the tui darted here and there and alb around the kaka. but never went within reach of the formidable bill. Whenever the kaka felt that the tui was too close it suddenly advanced along the branch and the tui sheered off. There was continual fluttering for five minutes. The tui then took itself off and the kaka quietly resumed its feeding. Later, Mr. Frost saw the tui feeding on the top of a miro. A large cicada flew across an open space. The tui darted out. caught, it, and added meat lo its vegetarian meal.

Among my valued documents is a letter from Dr. A. Jaeobi. director of the Dresden Museum, referring to the skin of a Notornis that museum is fortunate enough to possess. Only four specimens of this rare, massive and handsome rail are> known of. The best, and the latest, is Hi the Otago Muse.um, Dunedin. The first two are in the British Museum. Dr. Jacobi's letter explains that the third specimen was reported by Mr. J. Connor when, in 1879. he was manager of Hawkinsoti Bros.' run, Bare-Patch Plains, east of Lake Te Anau. The Notornis was in the possession of a rabbiter, Mr. R. Scott, to whom it had been brought bv a dog. It was alive when tlie dog brought it to Mr. Scott, but was dazed and stupid, and did not try to run away. Thinking that it was merely a large pukeko, its plumage resembling a pukeko's, Mr. Scott wrung its neck.

Mr. Connor skinned the bird, preserved the skin and the skeleton, and, after some months, sent them to a firm of dealers in London for sale. This, the third Notornis, found thirty years after the second Notornis, attracted much attention in Europe, as it had been believed that the species was extinct. Sir Richard Owen, the first to declare that the moa once lived in New Zealand, and Professor A. Newton, author of " A Dictionary of Birds," read papers on the specimen before the Zoological Society of London. In spite of this, the specimen was allowed to go out of the Empire. Dr. Jacobi states that it was bought by Mr. Oscar Locbcl, of Dresden, who gave it to the museum. * The price was 2250 marks, worth £llO. The Otagoi specimen was bought by the Government irom its discoverers, Messrs. D. and J. Ross, for £3OO.