IN TOUCH WITH NATURE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14281, 1 August 1908, Page 4

IN TOUCH WITH NATURE

(By James Drt;mmond, I'.L.S., F.Z.S.)

Has anybody ever seen the bird Pukunui, or Uig Stomach'' It was oncp. supposed to exist- in the North Island, but no European has. reported it to science, and its existence has now become very problematical and perhaps mythical. Sir Walter Bulk-v. however, seems to haw had faith in Big Stomach, which the Maoris frequently described to him. 'they told him that it T was a reddish bird, and frequented swamps and marshes. Sir Walter, who says that it was a coot or rail, searched for it, never failed to mafee inquiries after it from the Maoris, offered liberal rewards for a specimen, and often fell- that- the prize was within hi? grasp. He slates that on one occasion a Uig Stomach was actually caught for him at the edge of a ra-upo swamp in a bush settlement at Mareikura, on the North Wairoa River, Auckland. . According to his account of the affair, il was caught unhurt, and was kept- tethered by a flax string in the Maoris' " marae," or open courtyard. A Maori who was passing saw the bird, snapped the string with his foot, and the vara avis escaped. That happened nearly 50 years ago, and Big-Stomach, apparently, has not- put in an appearance since. Although sonic people mil bo inclined to feel that the Maoris were taking a. rather imean advantage of-the ornithologist's enthusiasm, Sir' Walter's faith in the bird lasted until he died. In the

''supplement'' to his "Birds," issued a short time before his death, he expressed an opinion that the. bird he had sought for (jo diligently belonged to the same species as a large coot that the Itov. W. Colcnso purchased from some. Maoris at Ngaruawahia, on the Waikato River, in 1815. Mr Colenso's species has not- been seen since. The fairest suppcsilion seems to he that it was a wandereiW straggler from Australia, and that Big Stomach ; s a Maori myth. Mr E. Tregear, in his "Maori Polynesian Dictionary," and the Rev. H. W.'Williams, in the "Polynesian Journal," give " Pukunui" as the Maori name of the dotterel, but that- is not the bird sought for by Sir Walter Puller.

Mr W. W. Smith, who was secretary to the Scenery Preservation Commission, and is now in charge of New Plymouth's' beautiful Public Gardens, has sent me a note on the magpie moth. It is. specially welcome on account of tlie fact that in collections there are largo numbers of New Zealand .moths whose life histories are utterly unknown;. and as many remarkable native 6pecies are vanishing, much interesting information will he lost if more attention is not given to' this branch of natural history. Mr Smith explains that his object is to encourage the study .of insects as a pleasant department of nature study. When the study is skilfully followed, ho says, it is almost sure to result in lasting honours and pleasure, especially to young students. He stales that many eminent entomologists own their attainments in science to early experiments with caterpillars, and he' adds that New Zealand offers an exceptionally fine fie'.d for original work in this direction.

_. The magpie moth, whose scientific name is Nyctomera annulate-, is a pretty diurnal moth. . One of its most interesting features is the fact that it is a striking illustration of the manner in which some introduced plants help to bring about an increase in the numbers of some species of native insects. The accidental introduction of the ragwort (Senccio jacobcea) brought loss to farmers in Southland, but it also provided an additional and natural food for the larva; of the magpie moth, which has increased prodigiously every year. In Southland, where the ragwortgrows in large masses over areas of country, the caterpillars may be seen in their tens of thousands feeding on the luxuriant plants. As a traveller walks through the forests of yellow flowers, the moths rise around him in great numbers, and pass from flower to flower. It is interesting to closely watch several of thesis fiiie moths alight on a single (lower-head and re-gale themeelves with the nectar. ■Mr Smith st.ites, in passing, that masses of tbaso flowers, occurring in forest glades, are the chief attraction to many .species of diurnal and nocturnal native werts, and are the moet prized and 'best collecting grounds of southern entomologists.

Tire magpie moth gets its popular name from its black-and-white colours. It belongs to the group of the t'|Tcr moths, ;ll| d its larva, lilco the larvre of the manv 'epceies of tiger mollii, is clothed in hair •01' rigid bristles. It it distasteful v to thirds unci: is protected from their attacks, 111 dasilrids from which their native fowl •plant (Scnecio belb'dioides) lias disappeared thae moths putet on tin; naturalised groundsel (Scmcio vulgaris), a common, garden weed now widely dispersed in New Zealand. It also attacks the 'hardy, graceful silver-leafed Cineraria- maritima. A remarkable feature of the magpie moths cxiflUaice is that the caterpillar, the chrysalis, and the moth Jia,vc the same colours. The moth is ■both conspicuous and beautiful. It is jet Mack, with two white blotches on tlio fore or primary wings, and a white dot oil the under or secondary mugs. The 'body is black, alternated with circular yellow rings, and there are two yellow stripes on tlrc thorax, Thco-s characters ill the moth's markings are usually contftaii't, but. slight 'alienations occur occapiotmlly. Mr Smiitli has captured and examined many hundreds of 6|iecimcns, 'hut lie lias seen oidy one individual with ilie conspicuous white markings absent. He says that young people may derive lUUieh pleasure by collecting magpie iinotlis alive and placing them in glass .jars, with some inches of eoil on the bottom, and a- few small leafy stems of groun«?l or ragwort on tko surface of ithe soil. The moths will deposit their •eggs on the stems, and in a few dave 'Liny caterpillars will hatch. If fed daily with fresh leaves t'he' caterpillars wiil grow rapidly, and their growth and moults at different stages in development fan be watched.

DEVOTIONAL. At D.mvn.