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from other sources as to the bird-life in the various parts of the Dominion. It is pleasing to be able to report that the interest in our bird-life has been maintained, and the Department is indebted to acclimatization societies for their co-operation in this respect. A large number of prosecutions have been initiated by societies in connection with the taking of absolutely protected birds. The reports received in regard to bird-life in sanctuaries are very satisfactory. A number of reported cases of native-pigeon shooting have been investigated, but unfortunately it is very difficult to trace offenders. The Department is always ready to institute the fullest possible inquiry into reports of shooting of native pigeons or other absolutely protected birds, and any person who has any knowledge of such happenings will be obliging the Department if particulars are supplied. A large number of notices soliciting the co-operation of the public in preserving our native birds have been printed, and it is proposed to arrange to have them exhibited in domains and other suitable places throughout the Dominion. Notices showing the names of absolutely protected birds are supplied to holders of game-shooting and opossum-trapping licenses, and copies are displayed at post-offices. Attention is drawn in all cases to the penalties provided for breaches of the Act in regard to absolutely protected birds. Opossums.—Open seasons were again declared in a number of districts for the taking of opossums. The number of trappers' licenses issued was 1,250, and the number of skins taken amounted to 159,878. Pukeko.—The result of an investigation as to the feeding-habits of pukeko is as follows : —

Number of Approximate District. ! Birds Bate of Where taken from. Stomach contents. j taken. Capture. Manawatu. Manawatu .. I 2 .. j Swamp .. .. .. Macerated green material, mostly grass. „ .. : 2 6/1/29 | ,, .. .. .. Macerated green vegetation, and seeds of Lolium perenne and buttercup. Kairanga ,. 4 10/2/29 From swamp with crop of part- Macerated vegetation, and seeds of Lolium ridge peas in near vicinity ; perenne, Poa annua, Eleocharis ovata, I Garex sp., and Glycerin fluitans. Karcre .. 2 21/5/29 Taken on crop of rape .. I Macerated vegetation, fat-hen, and sedgeweed. ,, .. 2 29/5/29 From swamp area with crop of j Macerated vegetation (grass) and duckrape in near vicinity i weed. Otago. Ranfurly .. 2 5/11/28 From vicinity of cropping-areas Small roots and little macerated green material; also remains of insect-larva 5 , and spider. ,, .. j 2 11/12/28 ,, Macerated green material and seeds of Poa pratensis. ,, .. | 2 14/1/29 „ Macerated grass and part of an insect. Waihola .. 2 12/12/28 ,, Macerated vegetation and clover-leaves; also seeds of Eleocharis ovata. Ranfurly .. i 2 9/2/29 „ Chewed up vegetation, and seeds of Eleocharis ovata, Alopecurus geniculates, and Poa annua, ,, .. 2 6/3/29 Swamp .. .. .. Macerated vegetation. ... 2 4/4/29 Waihola .. 2 18/3/29 ,, . . .. Few rush-seeds and some rye. Ranfurly .. 2 1/5/29 Two miles from cropping-area.. Vegetation, few clover-leaves, and rushseeds. Lake Waihola .. 2 10/5/29 Berwick .. .. .. Macerated vegetation and large number of rush-seeds. Waipori .. 2 13/6/29 At Lake Waipori .. .. Macerated vegetation and rushes; also rush-seeds. Ranfurly .. 2 11/6/29 From vicinity of cropping-area Macerated vegetation only. ,, .. 2 6/7/29 Near cropping-area .. .. Macerated vegetation and oats. „ 2 5/8/29 From cropping-area .. (a) Macerated vegetation and crop halffull of wheat; (b) macerated vegetation and one barley-grain. Waipori .. 1 6/7/29 Waipori .. .. .. Macerated swamp vegetation and rushseeds. „ .. 2 I 16/8/29 ,, .. .. .. Macerated black-swamp vegetation. Southland. Waimea Plains ..I 4 Dec. and From vicinity of cultivated lands Macerated vegetation (grass). .fan, Oporo .. .. I 2 Ditto .. Shot in oat-paddock .. No oats found ; stalks and heads of weeds and other vegetation. Waimea Plains .. 2 ,, Twenty-five chains from nearest Macerated vegetation (mostly marshcrop foxtail) ; Alopecurus geniculatus. J; .. 2 18/4/29 From cultivated areas on plains Macerated vegetation (grass) and oatseeds. „ .. 2 14/5/29 ,, Macerated vegetation (grass). tl .. 2 25/6/29 Taken beside an oat-stack .. Macerated vegetation ; oat and rush seeds. ;J .. 2 25/6/29 From swamp, half a mile from Macerated vegetation ; oat and toad-rush cultivation seeds. North Canterbury. Cheviot .. 2 23/4/29 1 Alleged to be causing damage to Macerated vegetation (grass); few cloverstacks leaves. , .. i 2 20/7/29 .. ! Macerated grass and other vegetation. j _J I i