C.— 6.

" The grey ducks reared two broods near the swamp. The first batch went away as soon as they could fly, and we have not seen them since, at least not in the daytime. They may come back at night, because there is always a great commotion going on down the swamp every night after dark. Some of the second batch also went away. One of these was decapitated by a harrier when it was a fortnight old. A harrier also attacked another one and badly damaged its wing. Several of the harriers have been trapped, and there are some more that want to be served likewise as they are always hovering over the swamp after the ducks. " During the visit to the lake at the north end in January, I counted fourteen kuruwhengi (shoveller duck) flying from one end of the lake to the other. As they looked to be young birds they apparent y were bred there. We did not see any sign of teal during our visit. " The sea-birds had an excellent season. Besides the usual nesting-grounds being occupied, many new sites were used. The mutton-birds nested along the western side in all the prominent points of the cliffs which were suitable. Several other colonies of these petrels were found in the bush on the eastern side. A very large colony of both species of gulls red-billed and black-backed nested on the end of the long point at the north end. The birds were spread along the boulder-bank for about 3 chains. To the south of the gull colony on the same beach was another one of white-fronted terns with a few red-billed gulls. In these two nesting-places there must have been at least two hundred birds. On Tokamapuna, also, hundreds of gulls and terns nested and reared their young. " The shags resorted, as usual, to the high pinnacles at the south-west corner for the purpose of rearing their young. A few of them also nested near Tokahaki, at the most northern part of the island. The blue herons seem to be in about the same numbers as when we came here fifteen years ago. During all that time we have known of only one new nesting-place, which has been occupied every season for some years no\t. One old nesting-site was deserted five or six years ago and has not been used since.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not. given ; printing (000 copies), £10 159.

By Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.-—1940.

Price, (id].

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