THE BANDED DOTTEREL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2522, 24 July 1915, Page 3

THE BANDED DOTTEREL.

Sir,—Tho banded dottered is well known to most disciples of Izaak Walton,, especially those anglers who ply their calling on the .shingle river-beds. This bird is distributed over a. large area of the South Island, the nest is rudely constructed, consisting of a slight depression in the ground and lined' with native dried Brasses, And usually containing from three to four eggs, of a pale green colour and blotched with black markings; If you approach the nest or are in the' vicinity, where the young chicks are concealed, tho old birds perform all manner of antic's to mislead the intruder, simulating a broken wing or again indulging in short, rapid flights, and with rather a quaint call, "Pip, pipl" until tho bird's object has been achieved. When the young birds are ready to take wing,- thoy cougregato in small flocks towards the end of summer, and gradually grow in numbers from 30 to 60 birds, drawn from many miles of river-bed and flats. They are then practically gregarious, and arc ready to , migrate from the uplands, down to the seaboard, for the winter months, in search of food, returning again early in the spring to their former haunts. Unfortunately, owing to the depre- ' dation of stoats, tho banded dotterel is gradually disappearing in many parts of the South Island, as m 1895 Mr. R. E. Clouston and myself were camped on tho Ohau and Almruri Rivers, we found tho remains. of several young baJided dotterel, also black and pied stilts, and young red-bill, showing how necessary this bird is entitled to all the protection we can give them. In a trip extending over'five months from August to Decembor, through the greater part of the Mackenzie Country, not until wo had crossed Lake Wakatipu did wo meet with tho brown and rufus-colonred dotterel, where we saw a pair with young birds on tho Tipper reaches of the Mataura River, and going through exactly tho same antics as his congener, the banded dotterel. I understand that a ! deputation from the various aeclima- ' tisation societies has been appointed to ) interview the Under-Secretary for In- . lornal Affairs' with regard to Clause 7 - (that these birds bo declared open 3 game). I sincerely trust that all bird 3 lovers will agitate to keep this bird 3 gazetted for ever.—l am, etc., s 1. M GILL, a Palm.erston North. ? THE CIVIL SERVICE ANDTHE WAR r Owing to the high of living through this terriblo war which has been going on now for twelve months, everybody 0 except the wages men have boen . passing it on, and as you know the '• wages man cannot pass it on. He has n to starve and ill clothe his children, It I, is tho wagos men who are represented lin largest numbers, at .the froM

it is the wages men and the family men who are fighting for the stay-at-home mau.. May I ask through your valuable paper where are the champions of New Zealand's Civil Servants; where are the champions in the House of Representatives? Net a sign from any one, and when this is taken up may I suggest that a bonus be granted according to the number dependent on such. Civil Servants, particularly those with large families? It is pleasant reading to find that some private employers and public bodies have come to the assistance of their employees. Tho British Government have done it, and other Dominions. Surely this fair country is not going to be the last to do what, is their duty.— I am, etc.. . LIVE AND LET LIVE.