The Nature Column.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 13, 11 June 1920, Page 6

The Nature Column.

CHAS. CALVERT.

In the last number of tlie "School Journal" is a Ime little article on the Shining Cuckoo. After describing the general habits of the cuckoo, which in the main agree with those of other cuckoos, Mr Anderson, the writer of the article, raises an important question in regard to the migration of the cuckoo. He says : "The song of the bird ceases in January, and it is supposed that in Fehruary or March, or it may be later, the cuckoos leave New Zealand for their winter home. This has been supposed for fifty years; but there is a difficulty. "The winter home was supposed to be New Caledonia or New Guinea, or perhaps the northern part of Queensland ; but it now appears that the bird is rarely known in those places, and then only as an occasional visitor; and a noted Australian authority on birds, Mr G. M. Matthews, makes a suggestion which he admits seems absurd. He suggests that the bird never leaves New Zealand at all ! He states that it is rarely found anywhere but in New Zealand, and thinks that it may retire to quiet, little frequented parts of the country during that time of the year when it is not heard." In another place Mr Anderson points out that the birds would have to fly over about 1000 miles of the Tasman sea and it is supposed that the bird must be on the wing for from twent-y-four to thirty-six hours — an almost unbelievable flight. In a lecture on the migration of birds given by Mr Philpot hefore the Naturalists' Society a year or two ago, it was mentioned that the law of the survival of the nttest would provide that only birds possessing the n&cessary power of flight would survivo as the land bridges disappeared. In the same lecture Mr Philpot siaied that he had ceen cuckoos arrive in Sou Lhiand absolutely exhausted, and very hungry, eating with avidity the hairy catapillar of the magpie moth. This catapiliar is rarely eaten by birds. Other evidence of the exhausted state of the birds was also adduced. This at least goes to show that the cuckoo has travelled far before it reaches our southern districts. In connection with the ealing of hairy" eatapillars, it is well to note that Mr pjke in the Old Country raerrtions, in ihe eourse of an article on the cuckoo, that these birds eat hairy and hrightly ccloured eatapillars. He also mentions that when too big for the nest, but still unafcle to look" after itself, the young cuckoo is fed by other birds beside the foster parents. Have any of our observers here noticed this peculiarity ? Mr Anderson says the_cuckoo has never been seen to arrive or depart, thcugb 'the godwit has been seen both coming and going. Further cuckoos have been known to winter in New Zealand. In this, of course, they are not singular, for I have seen the godwit throughout the whole year on the New Rive.r Estuary, and they have also been seen by others. A member of the naturalists said he thought the godwit bred here. An appeal has been made to the teacherse and scholars of the schook to watch for the cuckoo in the wintertime, and a keen look out should be kept during September and October, tha supposed time of their arrival in the Domrnion. We trust that all nature students will do the same. Any notes from* correspondents on the cuckoo will be gr&tefuMy received. Dear Student, — Re your request for information as to where fossils may be found in- tbe Hokonuis. I have pleasure in sending you the following remarks : — - This vast assemblage of sedimentary strata comprises a strati-graphical system in time from Permian to Jurassic. It is the princjpal mountain huilder in New Zealand, in Southland these rocks occupy the greater part of the land surface and sweep round the south end of Otago to Nugget Point and lower Clutha. The general occurrence of sediments throughout the country proves that New Zealand was once the shore line cf a continent. Geologists do not yet possess sufficient knowledge of facts to enable them to say where the old continent was situated, but the remains of its flora aud fauna were covered up by the sands of the beaches and mud deposits, hence the rich fossil bearing rocks in the Hokonui system and elsewhere. In the gravels of the Otapiri stream plant fossils coniaining Asplenites similar to the Curio Bay fossils are to be found, also shells such as pectens etc. The d-if-ferent series of the Hokonui system, the Bastian, Otapiri, and Mataura series are all pro-lific hunting grounds for tha fossil seeker. — Yours sincerelv.

Myrosa Bush, June 3, 1920. A reply to thc abovo will appear in the next issue.