NATURE NOTES

Evening Post, Issue 28, 1 August 1936, Page 17

NATURE NOTES

FISH AND BIRDS

CORRESPONDENTS' V OBSERVATIONS

(By R. H. D. Stidolph.)

The egg case of a fish, with its occupant, was recently picked up at Lowry Bay and forwarded to the writer for identification. The specimen was referred to Mr. W. J. Phillipps, of the Dominion Museum staff, who states that it is an embryo of the elephant fish or reperepe, a fish which, he states, lays an egg not far from the shore.. The egg case is much flattened and produced at the ends and sides. 'In the autumn, according to Mr. Phillipps, these egg cases are not uncommon on beaches from - New Brighton, Christchurch, northward to Blenheim, but are not so common around Wellington. The specimen.sent to Mr. Phillipps was in perfect condition. Generally they are broken or the young fish has been pecked out by gulls. Before the earthquake at Napier, Mr. Phillipps recorded large numbers of young elephant fish from six inches upwards in shallow water at Westshore. The adult is three feet long and lives in deep water. Many half-grown fishes, he states,.may sometimes be taken in the trawl, but these are not easily saleable. In Christchurch large numbers are sold under the name of "silver trumpeter." The elephant fish sometimes weighs up to 201b. STRAY SHINING CUCKOO. "Just a few lines to let you know that I heard and saw a shining cuckoo yesterday and today in my garden," writes "Bird-lover" from Rona Bay, under date July 7, 1936, "and a week ago I heard him calling his plaintive note at the top of Rona Bay in the bush. Presumably he is one that did not migrate last season; usually they do not arrive over here until early in October. Other birds frequenting this " side of the harbour are the grey warbler, tui, .fantail, whiteeye, morepork, sparrow, blackbird, starling, song thrush, magpie, and Californian quail. The blue heron has increased in numbers' this season. I counted eight one morning on the beach between here and Petone." It appears that the shining cuckoo occasionally fails to migrate to its-winter haunts overseas, as other instances are on record of this bird having been seen in New Zealand during the winter months. Has anyone heard the long-tailed cuckoo in New Zealand in the winter? It must be many years since a bird of this species has been seen or heard later than February or March, the months in which it usually departs for overseas. BLACK TEAL PROTECTED. The black teal, which -was mentioned in this column recently, is now absolutely protected' throughout New Zealand. Following on representations- made to the Government in 1934 this species was removed from the third schedule of the Animals Protection and Game Act and was placed on(the first schedule, which includes all £>irds totally protected throughout the Vountry. Shooters should be particularly careful in; the season that the Jjiirds secured are only' those species ii is permissible to shoot. Very often in' an uncertain light it is hard to make si^re of the kind of duck in view, although to one well versed in the hsibits of ducks it : is.not so difficult. In* any case, unless,a sportsman is sure tha.t the bird he intends, to shoot is not, a protected species he has no right toj&hoot it. In this connection a closer inspection of shooters' bags seems desirable, as, according to reliable reposes, protected . species of . ducks are ofteji shot in some districts. Perhaps if sdime details of protected ducks—a shqjfcdescription, for instance, with the best? distinguishing marks stressed— were issued with all shooters' licences it ra»iy save some birds from being shot.;. t^MALL BIRDS MISSING. "In'; former winters we have been visited by many small birds of ypretty plumage, but this winter these interesting' r birds are entirely absent,*? writesl*, a correspondent residing at The Parade} Island Bay. "Can you suggest any ra ason?1 Is it likely that their bush Etnd country feed is more plentiful triis year? Do you think we may expect \ some of them later? The starlings and sparrows are with us in numbers and we encourage them and put ovrt- bread and scraps for them. Blackbirds and thrushes are also present int-i small numbers and the little grey ■wrarbler, but the yellowhammers and all those prettily-marked finches and smaJU birds are entirely absent this year." _^Has any other correspondent had a siphilar experience? The writer has notftqed a great scarcity of the sil-ver-eye tl'iis winter. Hardly more than, half a cVozen have been seen at intervals, wfcfereas last year this bird was present ;tn large numbers, and eagerly devoured* scraps of all kinds and freely drank, many saucerfuls of milk placed oatside' for a hedgehog.' The silvef-eyve t leads a nomadic life in the winter aWd goes wherever its fancy takes it. i ' • . • ■ an\ earlt breeder. The determining factor in most birds' movements! is food supply. It may be that there lias been more or less sufficient food i.i other parts and the small' birds have imot been so sorely pressed this winter Vas in former years. June was a remarkably mild month and July has nipt been visited with such continuous n nd severe southerlies and heavy snowstorms in the high country as if often tme case. One or two species have actually' commenced to breed. A. recent report recorded the finding towards the *^nd of last month of a thrush's nest with eggs in the Tauranga aistrici. The imported . song thrush is one; of the earliest of breeders and its rtest is often found with eggs in July,, even in the Wellington district. The iDlackbird closely follows it, while amjong native birds the warbler and tflie fantail are about the first to think 4 f their domestic duties. In two or three; weeks' time the warbler will be butely constructing its beautiful nest and %he fantail will also be exploring ■ for '#. suitable site for its fanciful little njursery.