Contributions to Natural History.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 82, 16 April 1895, Page 3

Contributions to Natural History.

[By R. Edmunds.]

k. Considering that in a short time many of the familiar animals and plants by which we are now surrounded may become rare, or even extinct, it wbnld be well to put on record some of their habits or charac-

teristics we shall please future .' generations, at least, by doing so. Not . that we require any considerations of this kind: the whimsical ways of animals are so interesting that a study of their habits rewards us well for all - the time spent upon it. For instance,

We were greatly delighted to-day with the vivacious flight of the little New 4 Zealand “ Fantail.” This bird—one of the muscapidse, or fly-catchers—-which had flown into the house and • been caught, in the window curtains, showed not- the slightest fear, but when the doors were closed flew about the rooms, chasing flies. Swift as the eye could follow, the little creature sped, hither* thither, like a gleam of light; they had not a chance of escape ; guided by the large, spread- • ing tail, the little black beak shut with a snap upon them, certain as fate. To test its friendliness with other birds, it was then put into a small aviary with some canaries and goldfinches, where it made friends with all, appearing perfectly happy and at home, as if no sense of captivity could oppress its little spirit. We then amused •ourselves-by throwing ifr flies, and „ .although the space was so limited, it was wonderful to watch the %ieeling, curving, flashing gyrations *of the bird, catching them on the wing with ease.

*Before being set at liberty, it was given a drink of water in a small glass dish, on a table at which several persona were sitting, and so little fear had it of that dread ogre to most birds —the human being—that it immediately took a bath therein with the most fussy activity and pleasure, leaping then on to any finger offered it. The breast of this small meteor of swiftness was cinnamon brown, lighter to pale fawn* towards the neck; the wing feathers (18 in each) very long, smoky black above, light grey below; the back feathers like black wool, with brown frets at the points. On the black head, the white discs round the •yes, and the white band round the threat, gave it a clerical look; the legs beautifully neat, jet black, like the bill. The slim body, moulded on the finest linfca, formed to slip through air as the eel glides through the hand; ' not a scruple of superfluous flesh; just a nexus of powerful muscles to control the slender bones—a perfect model for the experimenter in aerial navigation.. The tiny creature could scarcely vibrate such ample wings with sufficient rapidity were it not that their open structure allows a portion of air to pass through at every stroke. The fan-shaped tail, as with the swallows, seems a necessity for the - rapid changes of the direction of flight in both birds, having to capture insects on the wing: it shows the correlation between the shape of animals and their habits.. We may safely say that this little acrobat of a bird could not live without that big tale of his. Very different to the sprightly confidence of this visitor is the timid shyness of another bird, the “ Blightbird,” or, from the white metallic discs round the eyes, the “ Silver- , eye.” He will take a fly from the finger, but with much trepidation. But though diffident of human society, he lives in perfect amity with his follow finches, the canaries. He shares their milk and their amuse- * ments, one of these being the leaping of a branch, perhaps a fgot or so high, a dozen times as neatly as a sprinter in a hurdle race, evidently pluming himself upon his skill in the performance. So nothing ruffles the current of their friendship until a moth is offered him; then all is changed! With open bill breathing curses ” not loud but deep,” he drives his yellow friends into the most distant corner, while he rushes forward

to secure the prize. The sight of a moth, to him is like the smell of blood to a tiger, or the sight of a Chinee to a Jap—hereditary enemies I But when we look at the thousands of these .insects, mothers of millions of caterpillars which have preyed upon our cabbages, tomatoes—ay, even on the potatoes this summer—we must deplore the scarcity of this most valuable bird in our orchards and gardens. To eat the moth is to prevent the caterpillar, and all those larval forms which dispute with man for the possession of bis food. Opunake, March 80, 1895.