NATURE—AND MAN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 520, 2 May 1933, Page 3

NATURE—AND MAN

Leo Fanning.)

callous collectors SIR WALTER BULLEiR) IS • ARRAIGNED FOR ZEAL. RARE BIRDS DESTROYED.

• (By

Sir Walter Buller, distinguished author of "A History of the Birds of New Zealand," has heen dead for many years. Although, in accordance with the classic adage^ "nothing but good" should be said about him, dt is necessary to condemn his collecting zeal which took heavy toll of native birds, even when he knew that they were becoming rare. He was really fond of birds in the wild state, but that liking took second place when the collecting fervour was upon him. His one objeet then was to kill a.t any cost. A previous article mentioned his heaxt-racking raids on the beautiful huias in the Ruahine Range of the North Island. The birds fell easy victims to their curiou5 confidence in their murderers. Even when two huias — a mated pair — were caressing each other with their beaks, they were not spared. They were swept to deathhy one charge of shot, and although Sir Walter was not the culprit in that case, he has to share the guilt, becausa the deed was done by one of his servants. He recorded his sense of regret, but admitted that he was plpased to have the specimens. On other occasions he was just as harbarous himself with the gun. • In his second volume Sir Walter mentions an expedition which resulted in the killing of many kiwis, one of which was eaten. He was also on the alert for other specimens. "At daybreak," he wrote, "one of the native attendants called me up to hear the rieh' flute-like notes of the kokako (native crow) in the low timher at the edge of the forest. I went after him with my gun, bu't owing to the thickness of the undergrowth I failed to find the bird" ■ By "failed to find" Sir Walter meant, of course, "failed to kill." Thrills of the Kills. Teh truth is that Sir Walter Buller, on his own confession, was more a museum-man than a hird-lover for the birds' sake. Here is'the introduction to his "Conclusion" of his second volume: — "Having now sent my last sheet to press, I cannot altogether dispel a feel'ing of regret that my work is finished, foi" it has beenl a source of much enjoyment to me since my arrival in England. "Few persons who are not themstlves pi'acGcal ornithologists can fully realise what this statement implies. The truth is this: In imagination I have lived over again the pleasantest part of my colonial life. In memory I have recalled the hright dewy morning, now five-and-thirty year3 ago, when I shot my first koheperoa in the old mission-garden at ' 'Tangiteroria, and found my beauti- • ful prize lying on the sward with its handed wings and tail stretched out to their full extent. [I have remembered the delight with which, almost as long 1 ago, I shot in the 'Tangihua Mountains my first piopio, a bird so rare at the far north, even at that time, that it was entirely unlcnown to the natives of the district." Ponder well, friends, on those words: "My beautiful prize lying on the sward with its handed wings and tail stretched out to their full extent." No smitten bird could have been more considerate to a collector. In that sudden death it took the right pose to give Sir Walter a thrilling view of the plumage. Cut Out the Collectors. People of New Zealand, will you continue to tolerate that kind of collecting, of which Sir Walter Buller was guilty? Rememher, people, that pdenty of collectors, since Sir Walter committed his acts of vandalism, have surpassed his occasional callousness. Insist on a cessation of permits for the killing of any so-called "protected" native bird, even if it helongs to a species which i.s not now threatened with extinction. New Zealand has not nearly enough' tuis or bell-birds. People of New Zealand, use your strength of voice and vote to ensure the sur1 vival and increase of your birds. Sentiment alone should win your support for your feathered friends, but even the motive of self-interest should induce you to wage war against your birds' 'enemies — deer, wild goats, German owls, stoats, ferrets, weasels, cats and collectors. Your birds help to conserve and propagate your native forest on which the welfare of much of your country depends. Pictures Better Than Dead Birds. A collector's stuffed bird is usually a very mournful-looking specimen, v/hich may vary absurdly from the original shape and characteristic p-oise. Good coloured pictures of the birds .are preferable to those sorry exhibits. The Native Bird Protection Society is wisely using some hundreds of pounds on the printing of a, hig hook in which the native bird3 will he accurately portrayed in their full natural colours. A keern demand i3 anticipated for this hook, which will be published within the next few weeks. Sound-Film of Bell-Bird Chorus. Would you like to hear the bellhird chorus which charmed Captain Cook and Sir Walter Buller (although it did not stop him from killing many of those marvellous songsters) ? The Native Bird Protection Society knows where and how a 3ound-film chorus of bell-birds can he taken, but it lacks money toi cover the cost. It is estimated that th'e expenditure, including contingencies, would not exceed £100. Here is the opportunity for lovers of native birds to do something good, something which would help immeasurahly in strengthening puhlic op'inion •on behalf of all native birds, something which would also give a very plaasant impression of New Zealand in many countries overseas. Who. will offer the first subscription towards the cost of the heavenly chorus. Save the Sanctuaries. !Gentlemen of the House of Repreisentatives, you know that sueeassive Governments acting on behalf of New Zealand's people, have made numerou3 xeservations of native forest for the salvation of scenery and birds. These reserves are supposed to he sanctuaries, but the birds do not think so. /

Gentlemen, you know that if the birds had votes as well as notes you would he more concerned for their welfare. In some cases persons have heen granted permits to remove dead wood from the reserves, hut, alas, it is easy to have such permits abused. Why take the risk of damage to the forests? W'hy not insist on a rigid protection of the sanctuaries? Those Dear Again. Frequently, one or another of New Zealand's numerous newspapers has reports of damage to native forests by deer. Here is a pdece of news from a Christchurch paper: — _ % "Rtports are frequently received of the inereasing numhers of deer and chamois and the damage caused, particularly hy the latter, to- the nativei flora, states the annual report of the Arthur's Pass National Park Board. The difficulty is to discover some practicahle scheme withinthe means of the board to check the menace." Not long ago a similar complaint came from a committee interested in the safeguarding of the beautiful forest girdle of Mt. Egmont, hut in this case the culprit is the omnivorous goat, which clears thq way for deer in the recesses of the forests in some other districts. People of New Zealand, the day has come for the declaration of a war of extermination against deer and •goats in your forests.