THE NATURALIST.

Otago Witness, Issue 3003, 4 October 1911, Page 76

THE NATURALIST.

(Bt James Drummond, F.L.S., F.Z.S.)

IN TOUCH WITH NATURE. NOTES ON NATURAL HISTORY IN NEW ZEALAND.

A few weeks ago a resident of the North of Auckland district sent me six feathers plucked from a skin which had come into his hands, and which, according to statements made to him, Maoris believed had belonged to a moa. He said that he was of opinion that the skin was a moa’s, and he sent the feathers in order that I might inquire into the subject. The question was a somewhat difficult one, but I saw that one of the feathers, evidently the tail, was much longer than the longest moa feather recorded, and that it seemed to be identical with an emu’s feather, and in view of the improbability of the skin of a moa ever being discovered, I replied that I thought the feathers belonged to an emu. Feathers of the moa, emu,, ostrich, cassowary, and rhea, or South American ostrich, are so similar that it is not .easy to distinguish between single specimens, and if anyone believes, that moa feathers have come into his possession, the position and circumstances in which they were found should be considered. A fairly large number of these feathers have been found. Scientifically, of course, they ar.e : very valuable, as they give some idea of the plumage of the extinct giant and of the appearance it had in real life. Some of the best specimens were obtained in Otago. In 1864 a notable find was made at Tiger Hill, on the Manuherikia Plains. Attached to some of the bones unearthed in a cave, there were parts of the ligaments and skin, and several feathers. The specimens were sent to the York Museum, in England, where they remain, but not before they were carefully examined in New Zealand. In the same district there was found another interesting relic. It was a piece of the neck, about 16in long, with the skin partly covered with feathers, attached by shrivelled muscles and ligaments. This specimen was given to i)r Thomson, of Clyde, by the miner who found it in a cave. All the feathers were described by those who saw them as being quite fresh in appearance. The colouring was as bright as if they had been recently plucked from the bird. All were. more or less broken, and only one shows the tube that enters the skin. In this feather the niain

1 plume is unbroken. It is 4.75ih long and 0.5 of an inch broad at the tip. The accessory plume, or after shaft, which ! shoots out from the main plume, close : to the quill, "is 2.75 in long, and is broken • but, when- whole, was nearly as large ; as the main plume. The feather, there- ; fore, must have had the appearance of I being double. In this respect there is : a great difference between the moa's feathers and the kiwi's, as the latter's | have no aftershaft whatever. In colour some of the moa feathers are chestnut ; red or brown, almost identical in that | respect with the feathers of the North I Island kiwi and of several species of i kiwis in the South Island; but in other cases, perhaps with the smaller and I shorter species, the moas had dark ! feathers, tipped with white. The | greatest length recorded is about 7in. It is quite probable that many other moa feathers, better specimens than those that have been examined, will be disclosed as fresh discoveries are made, but the possibility of a moa skin being I found is very remote. ,

The mantis, which was referred to in this column a few , weeks ago, is dealt with in detail by Mr, G. P. Morris, of Picton, who evidently has devoted to tho insect special attention. He gives an assurance that it is well worth watching, and that a study of its habits yill result in much plea-sure. In the first place, he says, the mantis does not make a single move "without an object. It may often be seen stealing quietly up a leaf stalk. As it is practically the same colour as the leaf, it is almost invisible, and of this fact it appears to be quite aware. When seen as described it is looking for a meal. If the observer keeps very still his patience will be well rewarded. Presently the insect pops its head from the edge of the leaf under which it has been crawling and remains quite motionless until it has surveyed the leaf from ite hiding place. If there is a fly on the leaf the mantis will gradually crawl over the edge of the leaf until it is on top, quietly swaying its body from side to side, and approaching its prey all the time. When near enough it darts out its forelegs like a flash and the fly is captured. It holds the body in one forefoot like a monkey grasping a piece of food, takes a bite out of it, and then holds it away while the mouthful is masticated. It always starts from the head, and eats so quickly that an observer can see the food disappearing and the body of the mantis extending. The fly's wings are discarded. . At the end of the meal the mantis suns itself and washes its face and body with ita forelegs, in the manner of a cat.

The mantis, Mr Morris adds, has very large wings, pale delicate green in colour, and of the same transparent lustre as those of the large " locust." The wings are folded under the wingcase, which is similar to a beetle's. He thinks that they are seldom used, as he has not often seen a mantis make a long flight, buit only from bush to bush, and then the movement is more like a jump or a spr.ng. He has of ten caught a mantis and thrown it up in the air, but on every occasion it flew only a few feet, and dropped down on to the nearest shrub. Apparently it used its wings only to lessen the' shock of the fall, as it did not open them immediately it was thrown into the air, but only after it had descended a considerable! distance. The female makes a comb about three-quarters of an inch long and a quarter of an inch wide and the same depth. This comb contains about 40 to 50 cells, in which she lays her eggs. She seals them up with a gummy substance, which dries hard and makes the cells watertight. She does this, Mr Morris believes, on account of the fact that she leaves the egg family exposed to all weathers, sometimes on a verandah post, a window frame, the branch of a shrub, or any other convenient place. The baby mantis; when born, differs "from many other insects, as it does not go through the grub stage. It comes forth from the comb a perfect replica of its parents, but is as small as the common ant. The whole family, which hatches simultaneously, is so small that the brood might be mistaken for a little dab of green lichen, which a sixpence would cover; and it is so fragile that a puff of air would blow it away. The young sun themselves for a short time in order to gather strength, and then disappear amongst the suring shelter in case they, in their turn, are devoured by an enemy. They seem to Temain in hiding until they are old enough and big enough to look after themselves. Mr Morris believes that fully 90 per cent, of them become food for other insects. He has watched many families hatch out in his garden, but he has seldom seen half a dozen adult specimens at one time. He has never seen the species he has obsrved fight, but when he teased one it struck fiercely at the straw used, and then walked away in disgust, with its forelegs folded, as if it was praying for its tormentor. . Mr Morris says that the insect he has dealt with so interestingly should not be confused with a.nother green insect, something like a green cicada, found on rose bushes. The latter insect is plentiful, especially in the evening. It makes a chirping noise from its back, and may be heard all over the garden, calling its companions. It cleverly disguises itself, and the longer a person hunts for it the less chance there is of finding it, as it is an accomplished ventriloquist. It feeds chiefly on the rose buds before the bloom bursts through, and is very destructive in the garden.