The Nature Column.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 3, 1 April 1920, Page 4

The Nature Column.

(BY "STUDENT.")

("Student" will be pleased to receive notes on any branch of Natural History. Observations on birds, insects, plants, etc., will be equally welcome. If using- a pen-name, will correspondents please enclose real name and address.) NATURE EOUND LAKE MONOWAI (Continued.) At the north-western end, or head of the lake, the Delta Burn flows in. This is the largest feeder the lake is supplied with but the course of the stream is not definitely known. The usual maps of the lake appear to omit- a sharp curve or hook at the end of it and it is evid,ent that the country round this point is practically unexplored. The many almost sheer bluffs near the lake edge prohibit traffic at a low altitude but by aseending 4C00 or 50CO feet a practicable route saems to be available. The real work would commence when the course turned south-eastward, bending down into the dense bush which clcthes the tangled and up-on-end block between the Green Lake and Monowai. This little piece of country between the two lakes is well worth the attention of a geologist. It has the-.vappearance tff a gigantic moraine, yet it can hardly be so or the Green Lake would surely fmd a way through it into the Monowai. The former lake is 1500 or 1600 feet above the latter and the distance between the two is only about two miles, yet the Gree.n Lake empties its water into the Manapouri some twenty miles away ! The Monowai Lake is not a favourite haunt of waterfowl. Ducks are by no means numerous, nor is it to be expected that they would be so, for what suits them best is an expanse of shallow water with low marshv shores just the reverse of the Monowai. In the upper waters of the lake an occasional crested grebe may be seen ; a strange solitary hird, not very wild or shy, but wary, and entirely opposed to any close acquaintance. While you are in sight he watches you keeiily, not feeding or busying himself with his toilet-, as other birds may do. but just floating on the water imperturbably, uttering from time to time a lioarse croak, presumably of disapproval. An odd pair or two of black-backed gulls also frequent the lake. Probably they nest on somebit ef shingle somewhere, for the gull breeds in all sorts of places. There is, or was until recently, a nesting place among the scrub or tussock on Seaward Moss. Iiundreds of them built in companv there at one time. Again, you may find nesting colonies at various points on the coast between Bluecliff and Preservation. But in addition to these colonies single nests may often be found, nests miles away from any other and built, sometimes on a bare mountain peak, and at other times in a gravelly river-bed. These variations in habit are most interesting for it may bc from such that new species are in some instances formed. Different ways of life may lead to adaptation to those ways, and the isolation which different habits must entail cannot fail to^oster any peculiarity of form or structure which may favour the possessors of such habits. After getting Tound the head of the lake there comes the climb on to the Hunter Mountains. This will be best achieved at the saddle between Mounts Cuthbert and Glenghearn. From this saddle a fine view of the Green Lake is obtained. That is, if there is no fog about. And fog there is, at least six times out of ten. But if the rambler's luck holds good and the day is clear he will see one of the prettiest of all our small lakes. The scene will probably remind him of some parts of Stewart Island ; there is just the same pleasing effect of bush-clad hill and bay. The Monowai is not a particularly beautiful piece of water — its unbroken line of steep forest-covered sbore is somewhat monotonous — but the Green Lake, and its unnamed smaller sister lying to the north, are well worth a visit from a scenic point of view alone. Almost due west from the saddle lies the fine mountain of Glenghearn. It is a very interesting peak to explore, formed like A huge crescent with lakelet or tarn lyirtgf between the horns. The eastern half of the crescent, for about half a milc, is known as the staircase, or, to give it the full title, the Devil's Staircase. The name is sigmficant, it is a narrow ridge topped with great masses of broken rock; pretty steop climbing, but not in any way daflgerous, except at one point where care is necessary, the track being narrowed to a matter of inches and everlasting smash waiting on either side some thousand ijte t below. But there is good foot-* ing and handhold and only absolute reck-, lessness could result in disaster.