THE KOTUKU.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2051, 6 November 1919, Page 3

THE KOTUKU.

The Kotukn, or white crane, which visited, us some time ago, and which left ns as mysteriously as it arrived, created a wide interest and a .good deal of newspaper correspondence in other parts of the.Domiinon. Mr W. 0. Leith, the wellknown Wairarapa taxidermist, of Martinborough, writes us as follows :

“Some months back I was reading Nature Notes in the Auckland Weekly, and one writer gave a description of the birds in his locality (some valley far down the West Coast), and amongst other birds he mentioned the place where the white heron built its nest. Then, again, I read where one had been seen far north on the- sea beach. Some 25 years ago one of these birds arrived at a place called Miller’s Dam, in Tokanui Valley, about nine miles from the mouth of the Mataura River, and I remember well getting about a chain away from it and admiring its beautiful plumage; but it only stayed there three days. Then iu 1900,’ or 1901, I was in Lord’s River, far down the cast coast of Stewart Island, with a party of half-caste Maoris, and while on an excursion up a small inlet we came upon one about 50 yards oil a splendid bird. One of the Maoris had a snider rifle, and they were all very anxious to get this bird. However, to save it’s life I begged to have lirst shot, and being the best shot in the party they readily agreed. However, it is easy to miss at any time, I had the pleasure of again seeing him about 000 yards off. He had a special dead tree that stood on a point, from which he used to sun himself of a morning, and where I could gel a fairly good view of him with my glasses. Some bvo years ago there was a blue crane shot on the hanks of the Ruatimhnnga, near the Wairarapa Lake, by some unsportsmanlike individual, and left to rot. That is the only one I have heard of, except the one you mention. My wife lolls me that blue cranes arc fairly plentiful in South Australia.”