Tales Retold.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 85

Tales Retold.

AN INSTRUCTIVE NARRATIVE FOR INEXPERIENCED PEOPLE.

does pukaki mean? Is a pukio a swamp? I am leaving his naming etand, because I have not had time to refer to my stand-by "Ornithologist," and also because names often vary according to locality. The writer's " Allen Baine " and - James Lane Allen are mentioned by Mr Palmer. Perhaps readers will like to know that many of the former writer's works can now be obtained at sixpence each, and that the latter's " The Choir Invisible " can be obtained in Macmillan'a sevenpenny series. This series is neatly bound in cloth, and is retailed in New Zealand at ninepence. Mr Palmer will notice that " Observer " in this issue amplifies "Ornithologist's " remarks upon the tomtit, and that Mr, White draws attention to the seasonal variation , its note. A portion of his letter, too, j through pressure on space, has been j omitted. # j Cicely's letter is a nice one. I hope tnat ; many will do as she does, and read the "New Zealand Naturalists' Calendar." I started too late this year to get the earheßt spring records. Next year we must look out for 6igns shown before the shortest! day. 1 Will teachers who may try " Education 1 Student's" plan let me have results? I The pulsating of the heart <ua referred to by Mr White, of Quarry Hills, is, I think, a common occurrence in cold-blooded animals. If I am wrong, perhaps someone will put me right. I hffve eeen the heart of a frog pulsating long after death; and many is the snake I have killed in Au* tralia, and repeatedly I have touched it up hours after and have seen it quiver. And if the muscles of the body, why not of the heart.. It ia almost regarded as a proved fact that a snake does not die fall sundown, the involuntarily moving of the muscles being mistaken for life «*«»• M Sprott asks a question or two. Were there not some minahs nesting in the «avesof the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company's wool and grain stores some years ago? Mention was made -of them inthess columns by, I think, "Old Boy.". Will someone give definite information/ j The reference to fantails will interest " Ornithologist," How much more pleasure is obtained by watching native birds in the way described by Mr Sprott than in shooting them down.

CORRESPONDENCE. Otokia, July 29Dear " Magister,"— l am sending you a few questions if you tEMc them worth putting into your columns. The last I have asked before, but have received no itanm The questions' may look «m#le to ail who know them, but they will be new, and pexhaps interesting, to others. I ccc, ™»8»: ter," you axe short of space, so I shall not give you * long on© this time but look out for a big cine next time. We have two kingfishers here yet, also the buntings have ooine to us I saw them to-day close to the house. 2Co natives at all just now. Birds beginning to pair eaarly. Bees very busy every day. Good-bye. , . __ There is a white thrush to be seen at Mt 'a place. I don't want you to «ay exactly where, as there would be hundreds J Shoae.

after it

QUESTIONS.— Which is tie strongest animal according to its size? Do rats breedequal numbers of males and females? House sparrows ditto? Starlings ditto? What animal gives the most young at a birth? What animal produces the most young in a year? Is the weasel the farmer's friend'? If so, how? If not, why? What two birds build their nests so much alike thai ycu can't leX which each belongs to' unless you see the eggs? Again, the same birds build a second nest the same, but quite different from the other; again, you can't tell which each belongs to unless you ace the eggs. What is the difference bet wen ths lark's song while on the wing and that white on the ground or in 9., cage? ,

JLaikcura, July 26.

Dear " Magister," — We thank " Ornitholor gist" and yourself very much, for your notes on fantails and tomtits. We have no difficulty in seeing the difference now. Fantails, both bleck and pied, have been very numerous lately; tbe more sedate tomtit is much rarer bere. The moka (?), perhaps owing to our quiet ways, seems to be getting to know -us. On© bird in particular seems quite fearless. I first noticed him in the iiees by the waterhole shortly sifter my last letier to -you. There he was for one splendid moment but Bft from my face — a beautiful, ateeny, irioloi-col&irred head, dark green upper parts and breast, light yellowy under the wings and tail. The rapidity of his movements almost defies the eye. " His favourite haunt at present is the early-budded wild fuchsia (kohutukotu) is it? His graceful neck turns now" this way, now that, as momentarily his long, slender bill is thrust into and withdrawn from the fuchsia bell — " For he en houey-dew doth feed, And drink the milk of Pa;adie«," to' quote from Kubla Khan. I see much plainer mokas (?) also, of duller green and yellow. Their trills, runs, ripples, and choruses — never dull or monotonous— echo and re-echo from *H parts of the bush, their most common notes here seeming something like, "Listen to the-tui bird." I saw six pigeons flying along the hillfront^ last week. As, late on Saturday evening, when returning from work under the rimus, of Uriw«ra, I heard the sharp whistle or screech (or blending of both) of a kaka, and, looking back, caw flying clear above the ridge between myself and the young m:on the first kaka I have seen here for 12 years or more. When I came down to the stream I heard my blue duck, Karetu (?), whist life g quite nesur. One of my nephews was telling us that a pair of pukaki (?) — if that is the native name for swamp hen — was living in the pukio (?) not far from his, father's place. TThe pretty birds became fearless, as be did not molest them. Other neighbours paw them, and coon the flend with the gun was there to destroy — in this probably the last pair of birds where hundreds had habitai'on within recent years. Our wee Elsie was out looking at the moon the other evening, when a morepork started his gutterals in tbe dark trees. Elsie rushed in with terror and said " that bird bite roe, mum." During tbe day s be now says, " Mokies asleep now, mum," but when she hears the plaintive morepork it is, " Mokies is out now, mum." We hay« only a. few local Maoris now. Henry Lawßon r in his "Writer's Dream," aptly depicts their position: " The last that was left oi a noble race

(When the page of the south was fair) ; The last of the conquered dwelt in peace, With the last of the victors there/

We sometimes wish for leisure and the graphic powers of Allen Baine ox N James Lane Allen that we might make the sublimity of our mountains, forests, and torrents, or the restful charm of our long eea reaches, vivid for those who may no* see and enjoy for themselves. Our winter h»3 to far been very mild —

f prevailing upper air currents from the northwest, and warm; a few off-shore winds, stiff, from the north-east; some rain squalls from -the south-west, snow along the' range, Trat very little balow, say about 3000 ft. Has it ever been ascertained over what length of these islands the sou-westerly blizzards prevail? From correspondence with Otago people I have gathered that some storma take about six hours to travel from North Otago to Kaikoura. Again, I have read of parts of , the intermediate country being swept by snow and hailstorms while other parts, one would think quite in the track of the storms, , remain untouched. Here the sou'-wesfters I follow under the range, and are almost from the west. With compliments of Mrs I Palmer, — Sincerely yours, j Charles Oscab Paljcbb.

Bluespur, July 22. Dear " M«igisteT," — jf read in the New Zealand Naturalists' Calendar that fuchsia and kowhai sometimes bloom in July. \ About a mile from our house there are several kowhai and fuchsia trees. The other day I went for a walk, and I noticed a fuchsia and * kowhai tree in bud. Th© latter is very scarce about this place, and only grows on warm, sneltSred slopes, while in a gully below the kowhai trees I saw ice an inch thick. I nave seen several cabbage trees gnawed through by the rabbits. They also have barked a kowhai tree. I think the spring will be early here, because the buds of the hawthorn are beginning to swell and the thrushes beginning to sing. — I am, etc., Cicely Tyndali.. i July 558. Dear "Magister," — With reference to the method of taking Nature observations in school, I forward; you herewith some samples jotted down while < 6he' work was going on. Tbe numbers refer (1) to observation, (2) to criticism, (3) to suggestion. Numbers 2 and 3 ; I would remind your readers axe by the neighbour critic of tbe observation. (1) Wild daisies out, buttercups not out in flower; (2) good, because a comparison made; (3) suggest giving reason for difference. (1) Fantail picking at manure heap as if after insects; (2) good, because locality noted; (3) suggest what insects. (1) Six blackbirds eating worms; (2) good, exact mnmber and food; (3) Is, it usual food? (1) Bed sky at 7 a.m.; (2) Fair, exact time; (3) reason. (1) Wiilow I deoiduous, broadleaf evergreen; (2) good, comparison; (3) reason for difference. "(1) Water penning out of cliff at B.s road; (2) fair, exact locality; (3) suggest finding cause of this. (1) Apple trees have leaves at top of branches still, pear trees no leaves, think because sap flows freer in apple than in pear trees; (2) good, because comparison made, and an explanation given for difference ; (3) why sap 'flows freer. (1) Goldfinch eating groundsel; (2) fair, states fact; (3) no suggestion. It is obvious there ib room for improvement. But I think you will agree 'that resuits so far are very encouraging. — I am, etc., Education Studbnt P.S. — For the " bush-elephant " Dr Ben--ham gave the name Rhynchodes uxsus. ' Quarry Hills, July 27. Dear "Magister," — The shell which you inquire about, with accompanying strip of i flax,' upon " which it was found, was sent in the same parcel vas the cocoons, slug, etc. I take it they came to hand at length. If you examine more carefully I think you will discover the tiny aperture through which the contents of tbe cocoons -have emerged. What they can belong to I have- not t&e slightest idea, " Ornithologist " makes interesting reference to the tomtit. Have any of your readers noticed that the song ,of the tomtit varies with the seasons? Its song at present (observed here for he first time this season on the 22nd) is a series of short notes, three up the scale and four or five down, forming a query which produces a peculiar mental effect upon, the listener. Who can answer it? Later in spring the answer comes from the bird himself, in the next variety of his song, and closely resembling the first bars of the chorus of that once popular song "Bluebell," with a peculiar thrill on the fourth' (" blue/) note - Wfoat sharp eyes th» lomtit haß. He will drop from his perch on a telegraph wire, pick a minute insect from the grass, and resume his former position without the ruffle of a feather to show that he appreciates the smart trick performed. Tomtits and fantails are very numerous here, but not any more so than they were thw time last year, I should cay. One migt count hundreds of the former and soores of the latter in a, day. Eingeyes are also plentiful I-lnave seen as many t>* 60 perched on a single »teetch of the telegraph wire. .While on a visit to tbe cold lake* dirbnet m DecemlxEr last I savr mere lingeyes thea?e than I have ever known before. To introduce * widely different fiubjeots, Can you account, " Magiater," for tie beating of a fish's hear i after it has 7 been removed from the bedy? Experimenting with the heart of a percn, I found it to pulsate, irregularly, for quite 2o minutes after removal from the fish. Toward the end of that time, although apparently !ifele»/it would recommence throbbing upon being touched. This may sound " fishy, nevertheless it is a common fact.jl^m, etc.,.

iant" D

Croydqn July 27. Dear " Magister,"— ln Ms description of the tomtit in your column of the Witness on the 21st inst., "Ornithologist' correctly describes the male tomtit, also the eggs and nest of the tomtit, but either by accident or design he says noihing about the female, which is quite unlike the male. It is smaller than the ma 1 © bird, and its colour is a lightish grey, with a dirty grey breast. I do not think an observer could possibly locate the female by " Ornithologist's " description. Both male and female birds have a curious Tiabit of flipping their tails towards their backs whenever they move. We read your columns with the greatest interest, and are pleased to think that you are arousing interest in jour beautiful New Zealand birds. Observer.

•*— I am, ietc.,

Momona, July 55.

Dear " Magister," — " Our Public Schools ! Column " has. since its inception, been a source of much -pleasure and interest to me, and I har« noted with keen satisfaction ths increasing interest manifested by our young people in' the observation and ieeord:n^ of note 3 pertaining to material Nature. As I do not remember having read in your columns nvauy references ta our North Island birds, I have thought that a few remarks, based upon the* observations made during an eight-month's sojourn in. the bush rear Dannevirke last year would possibly be of some interest to your readers. The first bird to excite the curiosity of my brothers and myself ttpon our arrival in jOannevirke was tie minab, which is very common there. They frequent the houses in the city, though they are not so plentiful there as in the bush. I have a dim recollection of reading somewhere that the minah was at one time to be found in Dunedin. Quite recently I mentioned tbe matter to a-. Dunedin lady, who takes a deep interest in natural history, and she eaid that, to the best of her knowledge, the TTM'ng'h never frequented Dunediu. But I

am still doubtful, and confess to ■ft " lingering suspicion " tba* the mmaih was «8 one time & denizen of " mine own- romantic city." Could you favour me with any definite information upon the subject? The pretty little yellow-hammer, at one time to be found in the gorse hedges at Ooiatorphine, about Cavershturbj but long since gone from tbere, may be sen in the neighbourhood of Dannevicke but not in any considerable numbers. During the eight months we spent in th« North Island we never saw a liedge sparrow. Do they obtain there? Waxeyes were very numerous. They naunted our camp continuously, and we could not help observing what a correspondent referred to quite recently — their extreme partiality for mutton suet. Pantails ''abound in the bush at Waikopiro, about nine miles from Dannevirk*, but they are all pied, black ones being totally absent. Twice we found their nests, and upon each occasion they were built in slender, ligbt-foliaged shrubs about Bft from the ground. The nests were perfectly constructed little edifices, fastidiously neat, perfectly round, and built of decayed wood, mose, horsehair and the fibre of some plant. Fantails evidently, db not take pains to conceal their nests, and in this they form a. distinct contrast --4o the tomtit whose nest is nearly always built in a well-concealed spot. On October 18 we found our first tomtit's nest. Very early that morning I went to draw water from a spring that issues from a gravel bank, when my attention was attracted' by a male tomtit with a large moth in his mouth. Be kept hopping about within a few feet of me, but as he still retained the moth I concluded t*h*t he did not intend it for his own use. Nor was I wrong in my conjecture, for presently lie was joined V»y the female bird, whereupon be immediately transferred the moth to her and flew off. My brother and I concluded; that there was a nest in the vicinity, 'so later in the day we instituted a seardk As we could see nothing from the top of the gravel bank, I descended to the bottom, and presently I saw a pa:r of bright little eyes peering at me from a point about a foot below the top of the bapk,, which was overhanging. - A close exaf&inaJtion revealed it to be the little bird sitting upon her nest. So well did the external appearance of the nest harmonise with its surroundings that it • would have been almost impossible to have observed it had not the bright little* eyes of its little owner betrayed its presence. I was afraid to examine tbe nest from below, lest I should disturb the gravel upon which- -it w<as constructed, so I ascended to the top again, and by lying down and leaning over the bank I could see into the nest. The bird remained motion-less on the nest until I was within a few inches qf her, when she flew out and alighted upon a veronica a few feet away, where she watched my every motion, all the while chirping plaintively. We could not but admire and marvel at the beauty of the nest, which was perfectly round, very deep, and madte of grasses, mosses, and lined with fealfchers. There were four eggs in tiho meat. We did not distuTb them, and in a few minutes we had the satisfaction of seeing the little bird return to the nest and settle herself comfortably upon her eggs. — I am, etc., Htjgh Spbott.