TREES AND BIRDS.

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 243, 15 October 1942, Page 4

TREES AND BIRDS.

Sir, — I am enclosing a letter from Alec F. O'Donoghue, to whom I wrote asking for a definite description of | the trees which he inspected during j our visit to the country in search of j native birds and trees. In regard to Mr Elvy's inquiries as to native snails, these are still to be found on Mt. Cullan and Mt. Duncan between 1000 feet to 2000 feet above sea level. They appeared to be good specimens in comparison with those I had seen at the Cawthron Institute, Nelson. I am rather curious to learn — if anyone can tell me — something about eel-like fish, or whatever they may be called, that appear in the streams running off these mountains. They are about as long as a bike spoke and about as thick all the way along, and they do not seem to have any head or tail. Mr R. Wasney, of the Forestry Department, Nelson, told me that tl:e bush canary is still about in small fiocks at the head of Lake Rotoroa. There are also parrakeets, and hf; stated that they are generally to bg found together. He also said that m Collingwood there is still the kakapo parrot, a native of New Zealand ancl very rare. These birds are a ground parrot, and, like the kiwi, have lost the use of their wings. Mr Wasney mentioned that the kiwi is still to be heard, but seldom seen, in the busti country not many miles from Rai Valley. He blames the stoat anq. weasel for the destruction of a big percentage of native birds. He described how he came across a stoat in the bush district with an eel an inch thick and about a foot lortg. The head was in its mouth, and tli? tail of the eel had curled around the stoat's neck, but it was trotting along without any effort. This may he of interest to some - of the sportsmen in our district: The chukor, the high-country sporting bird imported from India and released in North Canterbury a few years ago, are fast moving north and have been located at the Molesworth

and on several of the stations down the Awatere as far as the Ure. When these birds are disturbed they make a noise similar to that of a startled barnyard fowl and they know how to keep cover when running in the tussocks. It appears that they have acclimatised very well and should multiply rapidly. Living at high altitudes and quick off the mark, they will be slightly out of reach of the average quail shooter. I wonder if any Marlborough people have seen the blue mountain duck in recent years. I have made inquiries but have had no luck.

G.G.

In his letter to the correspondent Mr A. F. O'Donoghue, formerly of Blenheim, who is a member of the Auckland staff of the National ■ Broadcasting service, wrstes: — The plant in question is Cordyline Indivisa and is a first cousin of the common cabbage tree (Cordyline. Australis) . The two species, how ever, differ greatly in their habits. C. Australis, or the cabbage tree, loves the open country and the marshy places, while Cordyline Indivisa inhabits the bush-clad ridges up to about 3000 feet above sea level. The fibre is strong and is used by the natives for various purposes, such as mat making, clothing and baskets. By the way, these plants belong to the lily family, and not the palm family,^ as is commonly believed. The nikau is the only palm we have. Our common flax is also a lily. 1 iiii iiniii ii>h— m-«g»