TE AWAMUTU NOTES. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2204, 24 August 1886, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU NOTES. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Not satisfied with having introduced sundry pests which can never be pot rid of into the colony, the all-wise Government ha\e protected a native pest, the pukeko, by bringing it under the game laws. As they are the most numerous of native birds, as well ah the most easily got at by such vermin as stoats and weasels, the Got eminent may have taken that fact into consideration and protected them as food for their pets. I wonder what other absurditic they will penetrate. It was bad enough for people lo endure the trouble and loss caused by these birds without incurring a tine for destroying them. Not only are they the most numerous of native birds (in Waik.ito at any rate), but they are by far the most mischievous A Hock of forty or fifty will do an immense amount of damage in a potato field. They seem to be implied by a spirit of mischief, for after scratching up a potato they only peck a- little out of it, and go on to a fresh one. So troublesome did they become to some settlers that shooting parties were organised for their destruction. One man oven offered a reward for their heads. In one garden here, which bordered on a swamp, four of them used to make their appearance every morning, and in a, few days rows of peas, beans, and young plants of all kinds were pulled up— not for food, for they were left lying on the ground, but for mischief. At the owner's request I tried to shoot them, but it was some time before I succeeded, as they were so wary that it was extremely difficult to get within range. I succeeded at last, but not before a great amount of damage w at. done, for the garden was a very large one and well .stocked. Xow, however, by the assinine blundmng of .some legislators, we incur a fino for shooting them. The liw, howeu'r, will be more honouii'd in the breach than the observance. The authoiities have framed laws foi the pioteetion of pheasants; they have just framed anothei foi the pioteetion of pukekos., and if they only knew it, the-e do more damage to the pheasants than men hawks, for they destiny the eggs, and with | their powerful beaks kill the young ones be foi c they are fledged sufficiently to enable them to have themselves by flight. At one time it was easy enough to shoot them, but they .soon got waiy, and now when on a visit to a field of potatoes they post sentiies in elevated places, just as rooks do, and jt the hist night of anyone coming in their direction the sentinels give the alarm, and otl they Hy to fho nea\o»t swamp. A tie.ik of X.itnie— toi I can haidly call it anything else — ocouned in Kihikiln last week. On two oveninfs a flight of the large blown beitkn, which appear lato in the summei and aie .so destiuctive, made then ;ippearance. A bottler, at w ho.se place i was a day or two ufter, told me of it. llis

attention wai first attracted by their loud bu/./mpr nome, and unusual antics of his fowls, which were springing in the air after thiMii. Hf could scarcely believe it till ho caught some, when there wjs no doubt an to what they were. At the end of the house I found one hanging in a spider's web, which wa« sufficient proof to show that thpy had been there. He said they did not seem to rise from the ground a in summer time, but appeared to come in a steady flight from a north-westerly direction, .nut to fly towards the south-east, nor did they ttettle upon anything, but continued their flight. Usually they do not •ippear till dusk, but on this occasion they made their appearance rather earlier, for the fowls had not gone to roost. Fruit trees imiy \>e protected in a great measure from their ravages by having «h«ets of paper or nny other material spread on the ground under the trees after the beetle* have nettled, and by shaking the trees gently all the beetles will drop off on to the sheets, which can then be emptied into a vessel of water. I have known a big milk dnh full to be taken ovit of a small orchard in a (single evening by this means.