OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14000, 5 September 1907, Page 2

OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN.

FOE SENIORS AND JUNIORS. (Conducted by Magister, to whom all communications must bo addressed.) [Magister will be glad to receive Nature notes, marked papers containing educational articles, diagrams, details of experiments, etc., of scholastic interest to teachers and pupils. Correspondents using a pen namo must also send namo and address.] THE Y.M.O.A. MOVEMENT. _ I am sure that our editor will not mind if I put a word in on behalf of this movement. Many now canvassing for subscriptions havo no recollection of tho Scotch evangelist who visited Dunedin about SO .years ago and contributed by his efforto very largely in the erection of the Y.M.C.A. building nearly opposite tho Coffeo Palace, ami now known as the Trades Hall. But the young men could not retain it, and it fell'into tho handa of the Young Women's Christian Association, which also lost it.' Now, Phoenix-likc,'an-other building, inoro magnificent and utilitarian in eyery way, is proposed, and the very audacity of the proposals, hacked up by . a splendid organisation and fine oxamples of self-doriial, will command success. There is tho Citizens' Committee, which haa hundreds of naimes on its little list; but the 10 young men's teams command my rospoct; These'number 130 young men from 17 years upwards, Thcso teams started in a very practical way, for they started bv saying what they themselves would give. One team, averaging 20 years of age, put. up £93. Some havo promised a shilling a week for two years, and some more. Now; that's business that, tells, and that does more to rako in subscriptions than mountains of talk, for tho.v show that they have reason [or tho faith that ia in them. I am referring to tho movement for another reason. There aro many readers of tho Times and Witness residing in the country who have a close connection with tho town; 'and there are many who hone, at some time, to send sons or daughters to town to . engage in business or to bo trained for some profession. All of these ought to bo interested in the movement, and ought to hasten to supply a bripk or two. Who will send mo cheques tn hand over to the secretory? There isn't much time. There must he many not, on tho lists who would—or should—like to show 'practical sympathy with the movement. I once heard of a Roman Catholic priest who was bogging for some good object ■Connected. with the poor. His sermon was on the words, "Who riveth to tho poor lendeth to tho Lord." It was a very short sermon, for ho simply added to his text, "If you are satisfied with the security, down 'with the dust." The securitv in this; ease is an improved lnajihood. That's a good one, so "down with tho dust."

"NATURAL ELOCUTION." Tho annual competitions arranged, by tho Dtmedin Competitions Socioty will soon be upon us, and elocutionary aspirants in particular aro now commancing to work themselves up to as high a. standard as possible. It is my experience, however, that vory few really take elocution seriously. Tljoy learn pieces by heart, acquiro certain inflections and'so on from a teachor — competitor after, competitor taught by the samo teacher will have same action, gesture, inflections, pauses, and other details ;—but very few enter into tho feelings of tho author, and as few aro really natural. In my reading I camc across, tho other, .lav, the following in en article 011 " Reading in tho Study of Literature," and I think it is about correct:—"Tho w'orst danger of boys' school recitations is what is called 'expression.' It is regularly taught, and it generally means an artificial and, desolating emphasis, carefully imparted by the toucher, and fatal to the first aim of reading aloud, which is tot it should bo natural." To thoso who aro really desirous of having a good speabinsr and sinking voice there is a book, lately' published by Blackie and Son, which ought to bo of great value. It is callod " Natural Elocution in Speech ■ and Song," and is written by M'HaTcl.v Flint, who is Professor of Elocution -at Maynooth College, and who is also connceted, a*; a.n examiner or kuchcr, with other colleges, musical and literary.

In his prefaco ho siys that the system put forward is based "not 011 an appeal to external rulcs._ but on an inward reference to the individual temperament. Its aim is to develop an elocution which is NATUiiAL to the speaker, Intent in tho individual; and awaiting onlv the Accessary (■raining. Developed in this way, elocution is, essentially natural—the art of selfexpression." Ho then works out his system on the lines that we influence earlh other by word and by manner, and bv the latter more than the former; that mannor is the expression of emotion or feeling: that emotion 'is always prownt, but that it varies in different, temperaments, 1 and exlire'se? itself in a manner peculiar to the individual. The basis. Thou, of the book is consideration of emotion and 'temperament Helped by. tho various aids called in by the ; elocutionist.

In his opening chapter he says tot ve.vy few teachers can pronounce : correctly. omvTir'intp. or articulate clcarly, or l'cncl intelligently, and then on the question of elocution ifwlf lie writes: —

Rtocution is, in the minds of tlic vast inaioj'itv of people, asayriaied with the idea of recitation, or' formal delivery on some special occasion, but it really menus nothing moro or le-s than the perfect delivery of language. It is as essential for conversation siul general daily u c c as ior rare occasions. If it be of, a nature unsuitable to everyday discourse it can never be etTeciive for public delivery.' 'For the speaker who adopts, in pub'ic. a style 110b usual to liim must pay attention to the manner of his delivery instead of attending to the subject matter, which ought on such an occasion to engross him. *

Ho naturally places a great deal of importance upon coiToet breathing both from the purely physical point of viow and from the vorci-1 aspect. In tho introduction wo read: -

Turning to the physical aspect of the subject, the most important part of the training from the health point of view is tho breathing exercise." Hospitals reared ill our midst for tho cure of lung troubles, crowded to their utmost capacity, dearly prove the necessity of attention to this matter. The system of correct breathing should bo taught in every school, so that the coming generation may, be freed from the dread disoano which now works such havoc.

Net le.=s important than breathing exercises are those, for securing perfect artionlation. For it is by means of the organs of I'tiaculation that the breath is held, and the lungs kept full. The ■ exercises also help perfect enunciation, and are of tho greatest value for overcoming stammering, thick speech, and such other troubles as arise from want of oonitrol-of theso organs. The fir&t thing noticeable in the case of delicate students undergoing training is the improvement in general health. • • -

And in the chapter on breathing: — Breathing being the, motive power of the voice, it becomes a" matter of importance to find out how oil© should breathe. There are two methods by which tho chest jipac.c—in which the lungs are situated —is increased: op.o is termed the diaphragmatic, the othor the coastal mot lied In the former the diaphragm (the floo*. of tho chest) is lowered as far as possible; in tho latter th'a ribs (the walls of the chest) are extended to tho full.

Tho lart-ter method is th.9 true one, it is in acocordanee with Nature's laws, and is accessary for physical development. Tie coasv&l' method contracts the abdominal mvsclcs, preserves tho beauty of the figure, and ii'.croascs ohest measurement. Tlie"advocates of tho diaphragmatic method advise breathing exercises ill suoh postures as aro never assumed when one wants to make vocal or physical effort. To inhale to the full when lying down is a mistake; it is a position of vest.

For silent breathing stand erect with the shoulders thrown I>ack. the bips in line with the shoulders, draw in the abdomen, raise the ehest, and inhale air. The time of the inhalation and the exhalation is equal; the foul air making room for the fresh.

When dealing with the question of pronunciation Mr Hint, draws attention to such errors as "modcrut" for "moderate," desulut for 11 desolate," ' ! tomperut" for "temperate," "o-casion" for "oerasion," "o-foncc" for "offence," "polution"' for "pollution," and gives tho simple rule that when a double consonant is preceded and followed by a vowel the consonant should be divided. ".Tew" for " due." ■ " v.ialet" for 11 violet," "innacencc," for "innocence," ".conimcraeratc" for "commemorate," "hist'rv" for "history," "u" for "i" in chalice, malice, etc., are a few more blunders he points out-, and in this connection 'adds:— I "'When it is realised that the spelling is really some help, it will induce readers to see how far their pronunciation is in haraony with tho spoiling, ami whenever in doubt to consult a good dictionary." Correct pronunciation and a use of the dictionary would havo prevented an amusing mistake which took , place a, week or two ago in one of our secondary schools for girls. With othor words, " glutinous " was given to put. into sentences, and the majority of tho young ladies, who are finishing their education. liand«! in such sentences as "Tho trlutinous boy ate al the pic." Ton see, tliej hadn't distinguished between "glutin-

ous" and "gluttonous." ' They will next time.

Mr Flint's little manual is very readable and practicable, and,- as may bo imagined, written on lines quite his own. I am suro elocutionists will find much in it which will bo of great value ,to them, and I am oqually sure that Mr Baoyertz, our local clooutionary judge, will agree with tho author of tho book—"Be Natural." CORRESPONDENCE. "Old Boy," who takes>a great deal of interest in our flora ilnd fauna, writes mo a letter asking for information,about soma owls liberated a year.or so ago,by the' Acclimatisation Society; Who can undertake to give this bettor than boys? I hope they will send in some notes, and thoir seniors must do so too, ' " Young Colonial" nsk-6 for some information on the New Zealand laughing jackass. This I must ask my ' senior, rather than junior, readers to give. Mr Bathgate the other day kindly lent- mo " Out in the Open: A Bundle of Scraps of Natural History gathered in New Zealand," by the late T. H. Potts, F.L.S., and from it I take the following: — ' The Athene albifacies, "wekau" of the Maoris is known by somo up-country settlers as tho big owl or laughing jackass, at times it is confusod with the petrel in the description given of its cries. Wo havo enjoyed opportunities of observing living examples, of, examining freshly-killed, as well as finely-preserved specimens, but havo not yet mot with a purely white-faced bird; on tho other hand, its loud'cry, mode up of a series of dismal shrieks frequently repeated, waking tho tired' sleeper with almost, a shudder, at onco distinguishes the cry of the laughing jackass as one of the peculiarities of the mountain districts. Why it should share with one of our petrals and the great • Dacelo of Australia the trivial name of laughing jackass we know not; if its cry resembles laughter ct all, it is the uncontrollable outburst, the convulsive shout of insanity,; wo have never been able to trace the faintest approach to mirthful sound in tho unenrthly yells of this once mysterious night bird. . . A sea bird, one of the Procollaridte, P cookii, gives utterance to a very mild vorsio'n of the wekau's call, especially boforo. rain, it is averred, but the petrel's note is wanting in the intensity of the dreadfully doleful shrieks to which tho owl gives utterance. (See Captain Button's " Notes on the .Birds of the Little Barrier Island," Trims. N.Z. Inst., vol I, p. 1G2.) Mr W. Newton, a few years since, at the Level's Station, near Tiimltru, secured a specimen of the laughing jackass whilst it was engaged in the very act of making night hideous, so that all doubt has been removed as to the bird from which this startling cry proceeds; this night-call 'wp.s referred to in " Notes on the Birds of New Zealand," Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol 11, pp. 45, 40. This was written fully 25 years ago. The next is taken from " Animals of New Zoaland." Can any reader add anything more?

Name—Sceloglaux albifacies. . Drown, spotted with fulvous on breast, and streaked with samo colour on the back. Tail barred with fulvous. Feathers 011 tho legs pale rufous white. Sometimes the greater part of tho facial disc is white. Eyo dnrk reddish brown. . . Egg-white; ' length, 1.95 in. Found in South Island; but now vory rare; female smaller than the male.

The peculiar cry is like an uncontrollable outburst of laughter, is heard only when the bird is on ihe wing, and generally, on dark and drizzly nights, or immediately before tain. It is said that the call of the adults, in waking up in the evening, is very similar to tho call of tws man cooecing fronii a distance; male cry, loud and hoarse; female, shrill and less prolonged. Pood formerly, native rats; now, rats, mice, lizards, and large species of coleopiertv.

It is stated that it is' rapidly becoming extinct, owing to the insufficient* supply of proper food, tho coleoptera being totally inadequate to support this large bird. In captivity it soon becomcs lame, and superior food makes it fatter, \ stronger, and bigger. Breeding bsgins in September and October and the female sits on the eggs 25 days. In native state, the young arc fed by parents on largo blackish worms, procured from the edge of a swamp. Tho authors relate a caso where a pair wa3 kept in captivity in a largo packing-caEO with a dark recess in one corner, When tho female was hatching her egga the male bird regularly carried overy morsel of fo:d into the daTk recess and fed his mate. In the breeding season the birds are noiseless. "J.'s" letter will interest "Old Boy" arid " Ornithologist." I shall bo glad if " Mule" can be supplied with the information ho wants. On tho stick insect I find the following in Hudson's " Elementary Manual of New Zealand Entomology": —

It is best taken .at night, vdien it may be readily discovered, feeding on tho leaves of shrubs, and suddenly becoming perfectly noiseless when tho lantern is fumed upon it. The favourite plant for this (and indeed nrost of the species) is the whifo rata, upon which they are often seen in large numbers wlion the entomologist is collecting Lepidop'tcra in autumn. Stick insects are easily kept in captivity, ard will not be found devoid of interest. They aro great eaters, and grow, with considerable rapidity, frequently casting their skin, a matter oi no easy accomplishment. .■ The insect first suspends itself by its hind pair of legs, keeping the others in the samo position as when. walking; the head is bent in, and the antenna; aro placed along the breast, the long abdomen hanging over backwards. The skin then splits along the back of the thorax, and the head and thorax aro gradually pushed out. Tho front and middle logs are immediately afterwards extracted, the long femora and tibiae easily passing the sharp angles in the excuvia, owing to their oompleto flexibility. "When these are finally clear, the insect roaches forwlird with its forelegs, and draws the abdomen and hindlegs out of tho old skin; which remains attached to the branch until, dislodged by by some accident.. During the spring months great quantities of little stick insects m?y be noticed on tho parasitic ferns, covering tho tree stems in the forest; they are curious little animals, their antics when simulating inanimate twigs being often most amusing; and if the reader wishes to investigate a comparatively untouched branch of entomology ho cannot do better than keep a number of those until mature, when he will doubtless contribute much to our scanty knowledge of this curious family.

In the description thero is nothing said about its bite. The stick insect is classified undor the order Orthoptcra, family Phosmidra, and its name is Aennfhoclerus horridus. Who can. supply further information ?

I should like my young readers to look up tho technical Words -used to find their meanings. These are generally interesting when traced back to root inoaninps. Why is it that Latin is wsod in scientific nomenclature? I wonder can my younger readers give a shrewd inference, or two. What a boy can do in observing Nature animate and inanimate is shown in another portion of my column to-dav, wliero Mr Young's letter is prefixed lo ronic .extracts from a northern paper. The extracts snea.k' for themselves., and I am sure will gladden the hearts of those who willingly help me to stimulate observation on the part of young folk. I am much obliged for the loan, from Mr Roberts, of Ranfurly. of " Bulletin No. 9, Meteorology in Eolation to Fanning," a.nd in a week or. two shall make use of extracts from it. The pamphlet contains an illustration ami description of the. Stevenson sercon! leferrod to n. fortnight ago. I think 'tlie pamphlet is sent froo to applicants. and as it is, written, by tho Rev. D. C. Bates. Fellow of tho Royal Meteorological Society, (lie gentleman who observed the rain-making operations at Oamoru the other day, it will lie read with interest All country schools chould liaye a^copy. "OUT IN THE OPEN." : I shall bo 'very glad if any reader can put mo in tho way of procuring, a copy of this at a reasonable price, l'erhaps some one who has a copy and attaches no par-/ ticular value to it can oblige me.

Dunedin, August ill, 1907. Dear Higister,—About a year ago the Otago Acclimatisation Society liberated a number of small owls which th'cy had introduced with the view of combating the small-bird pesl. A dozen or more were liberated at Earnscleugh (ill Central Otagoj and about the same num- ' tor at Ashley Downs ill the south. I have heard that those turned out in Central Otagc have scattered and spread as far as Chattc Creek, but I have hoard nothing regarding the Other lot. It would bj interesting tc have information regarding the success 01 otherwise of the experiment, and I write k suggest that observers, in these districts particularly, should report to you from time ti time any facts which may come under theii notice. For example, is these any evidence oi their breeding? Have they spread over tin district? Are there any feel 3 tending to show that they arc preying on small birds, and, i! so, have they done so to such an extent as tc show any diminution of tho numbers? This might be effected not merely by tho slaughtci of sparrows by the owls, but their presence in a locality might frighten away the sma'.l birds. In other localities observers might bo on the look-out for the advent of the owls in their neighbourhood. Of course, like most of the family, they aro nocturnal in their habits and of silent flight, and rannot be so readily observed as birds that .fly by, day; but this particular owl is not so strictly nocturnal as many of its kindred, and may, it is stated, ba observed very early in tho evening, and sometimes even in tho daytime. If any. venture forth in the day they are sure to be mobbed by the small birds, and an investigation of any unwonted commotion in the bird world might .ead to the discovery that owls were about. Like most birds'of'prey, they djs-

gorgo the feathers, of their victims packed into tight, hard balls, and that finding of any of theso "casts," as they aro called, would reveal their presence; but possibly the earliest intimation' of their arrival in any locality would bo hearing their strange weird cry. These are matters on which information would ha interesting and valuable, and if investigation shows tbey are as useful as is oxpected, tamers and others might tempt some of iliem to take up their abode with them by putting up boxes in which they might, harbour and nest, for they nest and hide by day in holes in old trees and rocks, and where these are lacking some substitute would be necessary. No doubt tho starlings would take possession of. the boxes in tho first instance, but the owls would probably dispossess them. This owl, which is known as the stone owl (Athene lioctua), is not a British bird, but is pretty widely spread throughout the European Continent. It is about Bin long, and is of a brownish or fawn colour, mottled or shaded with a still lighter tint, at times nearly white. Tho face is greyish-white, and the under parts aro whitish, spotted with brown. The plumage of the young birds is darker than in .the adults. It lays from four to seven oggs, so that if they thrive here the increase should bo fairly rapid. As it is distinct from our inorepork.and tho now rare, if not extinct, white-faced nativo owl, an observer might bo sure that any new owl lie saw was one of these interesting strangers. In Italy these owls are frequently captured and kept in domestication, as they are easily tamed, and arc useful in both house and garden in keeping the premises clear of mice and noxious insects, on both of whioli they prey, as well as on small birds.—l am. etc., Old Boy.

Geraldine, August 28, 1907. Dear Magister,—l wonder if any of your correspondents could give me any information'about the Now Zealand "laughing jackas3." I have never seen it described in any hook on our native birds, although there is mention of a " laughing owl." The latter is the common large owl, which is fairly common here, but I have never heard it " laugh." The laughing jackass which I apeak of gives a loud and distinct laugh while flying—generally high in the air (about 200 ft I shcruld think). It therefore could not be the' common owl,. which is a weak flier. A neighbour is said to have caught one once, and he describes it as bsing a small kind of gull. He caught it l ino hole under .a rock, and said that it laughed at. .the time.' I am writing this letter in order to find out whether the bird is common and if there is anybody who can give a, good description of it, for, although •wo often hear them, wo have never seen one.—l am. etc., Young Coloniat,.

J).e?r ' Magister,"—ln roply -to " Ornithologist" on my mistake'on tire owl bunting, I am sorry for it : htrt I was only saying how little I know of it. This little bird is net common in any place I have been. " Ornithologist" also corrects on tho snow > bunting or snowfliiko or fairfiold. I givo you tiro corroct mimes. "Ornithologist"- says fieldfare is ii common name for the English thrush. Thrush or mavis is the only nam? in Britain for the song thrush. The red. winged thrush or ant thmli or fieldfare is also a winter *bird .of passage to Bril-oin. It Mows the wine hsbits iii tho snow buntin?, but in the fiolds only; I have never found it on the coarf. This is the smallest and also the prettiest of tfe thrupli kind. The breast is orange, red with smalj. black spots, and under the wings is also orange red. It was vory common in Scotlandi in tho winter time only, up fo 1576. They have never been plentiful sijice, dying in that year in great numbers. _ I used to stufE a lot of them for six or eight years lv-fore I left Home. I liavo never _ reen one alive I see that " Ornithologist" went to the Museum with a. chaffinch to find out what it was. "iT." Bimii.

. , Dunedin, .August 27. D«tr MflgiHer,"—As I am desirous of koenirg silkworms, ccu'd you or some of your contributors givo n?o tho address of someone who joss in for those insects. and from whom I could wcuro some? Could you toll 111? the scientific name of the stick inscct, and whether its bite is poisonous?—Your3 tru! s'. Mole. "A BOY NATURALIST," The following letter,' with onclosure referred ■ to, came to hand just after I had made up, my columns last week: — Rivcrsdale, Waipawa,. Napier, t , August 22, IGO7. iv enclose a cutting from th* Hwke'9 Bay Herald, which, if not sui4r able for your columns, will prove to yourself interesting reading. I .think the same boy is one of " Dot's" correspondent!.—Yours faithlnlly, ■ Wh. Youira. The outting—l am very glad indeed that Mr Young has .sent it—is a full account of IJio paper read by Mr Inspector Hill, of Hawke's Bay, before tho Hawke's Bay Philosopliical Institute. The paper is a long one, but as it is so interesting, and shows what a lad can do under sympathetie and skilful guidance, I quote largely from it. I fancy that lighthouse-keepers, if they wero willing, could givo us some' oxlremely_ interesting sidelights on bird life. This is shown by the lad's observations. Tho letters sent to Mr Hill and answered by that gentleman were monthly ones, as tho correspondence shows. As I am quoting moro than half of the article I will not add anything more, except that by. tho letter' of March 31, this year, it appeared as if tho hawks had almost exterminated the lizards. A large numtcr of hawks had arrived, but 'their keen soarcliing seemed almost, if not entirely, fruitless. Anyone wanting the paper in full will find it in the Hawke's Bay Herald, Awjust 17'. I should mention, perhaps, that- the boy is 11 years of age, and .that it was on the East Capo lighthouse that he. mndo his observations. The extracts open with an introduction by Inspector Hill:— ,

I desired very much to find, for example, whether tbo parrot book plant (ngahi-kaka of tho natives), Clanthus punicous, was to bi found native on the island, and I was. fortunate in obtaining full information on the subject. Tho young naturalist knew of three shrubs among the scrub,, and my request.for seed led him to look carefully, find ho found a solitary pod with 11 Eceds in it. These .he sent to me, and half a dozen of them grew when planted, and they promise to brcomo healthy plants. Wanting to know whether representatives of tho genera urtiea. sjgusticum, imd angelica were represented on the island, I was able to obtain the ncccssary information by asking him to notice any stinging plant or nettle, and any with leaves like parsley and carrots, and by this means he bccamo interested in plants, • and sent -specimens to me month by month. As soon as spring appeared he was required to collect specimens of all the flowers he should tee in his rambles, and he was told how to prepare them and make them'fit for sending away. He bccamo greatly interested in tho plants, nnd subsequently sent me a collection of all the kinds he could find on tho island. Having become interested in plants, the next step was |o gather shells. The director of the. Colonial Museum expressed to me a wish to have a sugar bag of beach sand sent to him in thj hope of obtaining small shell specimens. This was done, and many interesting shells wero obtained, in addition to which the lad sent me a' number of tho larger shells to he 'found on tho island. Then came the inquiry into bitd and animal life generally, and, as the island contained the tuatara, I was very anxious to learn somewhat the habits of the animal in its natural state. It was, at first, difficult to gather information about the birds, but this was soon overcome by means of books that wore scnit to tho island from time to time. For instance, Mutton and Drummond's "Animals of New Zealand" was presented to the lad by Mr Thomson, of Messrs Angus and Robertson, of Sydney, who read one of the lad's letters at my house and asked to have tha pleasure of rendering some encouragement to the lad in his lonely homo. So, again, Dr Don, of Oamaru. sent him White's "Natural History of Selbourne." These books, with others sent him by myself, proved of great assistance, and soon the lad was able to distinguish quite a variety of plants, and he could tell all the birds that visited the island. Curiously, the native birds leave the island in winter, but my correspondent in his last letter says that a lark remains, and it would appeal as if it intended to try lo eke out a living during the winter. But the lad must speak for himself. " The H'nemoa has called during the month and landed our stores. The lauding was very good, and some lighlhouse-kecpcrs that were being transferred to other lighthouses came ashore and _ spent part of the day with us. It made quite a nice change for us. Thero was rlso a boy about my age whom I had met before at, Cape Campl»H. I had tho pleasure of h.is company for the day. He is the first bey I have Men since we have been here. I also ivent on board the slcamer, and altogether I had a very good day. I think it is tho day I have had since >\e have been living on the island." April 1. 1903.—" During the past month we have lintl a very severe gale lrom tho south-east, and the sea ran very high. The wind blasted everything that was green on the island, and most of the trees look now as if there had been a fire. .■ . I must not forget to mention that whilst out digging for mutton birds I dug out (light lizarK eggs (tuatara-sphenodon), Their shapo' is ob:ong, and they are about an inch and a-lialf long. My father says they are quite different in shape to those at Stephen Island, The shell is very much like thick parchment."

ftggs reached, me on December 15, 1905, and were placed, in formalin. They \-aiy slightly in length, the largest being about one inch and a-quarter. A pigeon's egg is the closest illustration I know, and they would certainly be fallen for such by a mere inspection of tho bottle in which they are placed. The tuaiara cygs from Stephen Island as described to me by two independent

witnesses aro round. Mr Arnold says:—l "The eggs were gelatinous, round in shape, about ljin in diameter, ancj of a dirty white colour."

May 31, 1903.—'"We have had very tough weather during the greater.part'of the month. There has been a succession of gales, and very heavy rains. The sea for miles atound is quito discoloured. It is' a light brown oolour, and looks quite different from the bluo colour we lave been used to see. I suppose it is owing to tho rivers being in flood and the very rough' sea' we are getting." October 31, .1905.—"1 was glad to know you were pleased with the few seeds I sent. I am making a collection of the plants, and I liojo to lravo'them ready-for sending by the next mail. ... A number of small birds li&vo. come to tho island this month, amongst i them being blackbirds, starlings, sparrows, and yellowhamyiers, and one morning I counted 17 hawks.. A carrier pigeon also came, but must Lave gone away again, as I only saw it one day. We have also seen a large' number of whales this month, all going towards the south. On the eighth tliero wero three largo whales close to tho island all the afternoon. They were making such a noise splashing tho water with their tails.''

March 31, 190 C.— 11 The woather duiang this month has b?on rough and stonily. A lot of rain has. fallen. On the lKih I saw a, paroquet, which is , tho second I havo £«en this year. There have been several kingfishers' about the island during tho month, also several small flocks, of finches. I think they are goldfinches. These, stayed a few days, and tSiai loft. I have a.!so seen several thrushes, but I do not think. that they stayed long. A ground lark that has stayed with us #11 tho rummer and had become quito tame seems to havo gone away this month. I havo not seen him now for a week, and bafore. that lie was always about the houses On the 21st there was a swamp hen or pukeko on tlio island,' It was tho first I had seen. There are also a largo number of hawks about every day. Ono morning I counted 24." Juno 31,1006.—' 11 We havo had a very rough and stormy month. Some of tho gales havo been .very ssvare. During one ol them a largo box containing tho.fire hose was lifted up by tho force.of the wind aad crashed into one of our back windows. It really sicmed aa if the house would bo blown away. . :. . . You havo given mo a number of questions to answer, which I have, done as well as I could. Some of tho questions I am Miifole to answer, and I have not put them on tho list.. Ino question you asked about tkoro having been such a large number of hawks visiting the island I havo asked my father. Ho says he is not very sure what (hoy • could havo come for. 'l'hey did not seem to go after any birds at all, but were hovering about high "in tho air over tho island. At times they would suddenly pounce down as if after some object, but though my father tried to find out what they wero after he wa3 unable to d'o so. Ho is almost inclined, to think they must havo been after lizards. I .must tell you that I have seou a large number of whales this month. On the 27th there were nine in sight at once. Tlicy appeared to be playing as they splashed tho sua. about for some time before dis--appearing. The weather during the month has been .very' stormy, and the island has a very desolate appearance., The grass seems almost killod by the salt spray continually driven up by.the wind." ' •The next lotter is a description of Uto wreak of the. ketch Sir Homy aind tho loss of hor captain. The account deserves publication,.

J illy. 31,1506. —" limisi tell you that during this month the weather has been vary severe, with heavy, storms and heavy rain, and much damage has-been done to our little island. Thero have been several landslips, and during oil® ■ of the heavy- galas our garden fence was blown down and swept into tho sea. I have no doubt you have heard of thfl sad accident wh-ih happened to tho ketch Sir Henry, which was struck by a heavy sea and oap9ized about a milo off tho Capo on the 17th of this month. I was watching her at the time with my father and mother, and wo witnessed the whole occurrence.' It was blowing a dreadful gale, and tho sea was terrible. AVe saw two of the poor '.men on planks trying to reach the island.' They wero thrown by the sea several times, liko one might toss a cricket ball, and got. within,pile-quarter of a mile of tho' island before" losing their lives. My father and the other two man lowered themselves over the olifis -with ropes ready to try and save them, but nothing more was seen of tho poor men until about a week after tho accident, when the captain's body was washed up. My father mada a coffin; and the body was buried on the island, and Whilst attending tho burial service a very heavy thunderstorm came oil, which .made it seem so sad. We were -a-H- very much grieved, and it cast quite a gloom over the place, from which wo have not yet recovered. Tho £&iiie gale also disabled.' tho' wire, and wo cut off from nil telephone communication." August 31, 1906.—1n this letter tho value of suggestion and observation are prominently brought out. The statement' tihlit many hawks had boen - hovering • over the island roused me to point .cut thai hawks had a definito purpose m vTeiting a place. They do not go for a holiday. Ther© was a reason why eo many were at the island, and I urged hint to look ■ well and find out a reason. Here it' is:— .

Tho three knka bea.k (Clianthus puniceus) trees on the /island are'' now in bloom, rm<l look very pretty. I am sending' a, plant that has. an aromatic smell (angelica). I do not kn&w if it is the one you mean, but as it is the oiily one.l have found, I thou Mii I would send it. :I am also sending 0110° or two other sriiall plants. Hound about tlie cliffs (lower iniocene) o[ the island there are a few fossilised shells.. I have tried to dig some of them out, but they always break into Bmo.ll pieces (ttirritolla). I am sending you one that did not break as small aa they usually do. I think it is kind of boror. I did not tell you thn-t- on the 14th my father, when at - work in tho lighthouse during the morning, lictioed.a lwwk flying abaut very strangely.. It was flying very low ]uei riaing over the flax bushes and thou dropping again. It was hovering about so long that my father watched it to sea what it was after. After watching' it awhile, ho saw H rise up in tho air with a lizard in l 5?« ' Upon leao!lin g a height of about oOft it dropped tho lizard. This it repeated two or throD inoro times, and then did not rise again. Tins is the second hawk my father has eecn doing tho same tliikg, thornrh tho first was too far off to see what it had in its claws.