"ONCE IN A BLUE MOON"

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 209, 29 May 1920, Page 4

"ONCE IN A BLUE MOON"

REPORT ON WHITE CRANES,

In the course of tho annual report of, the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, reference is mndo to the occasional ap-' poaranco of white cranes, in New Zealand. Says the report:— "Once in that somewhat shadowy and, ill-defined period known as a 'Blnu Moon' it is given to those interested in bird life in tic Dominion to see a whita crane (or heron). This, bird—Heroeias Timoriensis or Ivotulcu—is classified as in-i digenous to New Zealand, and is included in the sixth schedule of tho Animnls Protection Act-but 110 one really believes it is a bona fide resident. Tho Maoria hold it in veneration as a luek-bnnaer —perhaps so. Early ill September, 1919,; a white crane appeared at Foxton, on tho West Coast, and its movements were noted by one of the society's rangers. Short* ly afterwards a second whitn crane took tip its residence at Mr. John Bartons. Mataikonn Station, on the East Coast. Whence they' came, How long they ed to stay, and whither they are goinr,, those aro unsolved problems. But tlife coincidence! The year'just enow has been tho society's lucky year -one of its best. off to the interesting strangers—an rovoir, bufc good-bye. ■