The Nature Column.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 25, 3 September 1920, Page 6

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.) Mr B. Gibb, of Menzies Ferry, in the course of a conversation Inst week, said that while ploughing lately he was pleasantly surprised to see a flock of Buller's gulls (Larus Bulleri), to the n iber of fifty-frve following the plough. He said it almost seemed as if the whole of the gulls of this species in Southland had gathered there. Mr Gibb remarked that this bird is rare in Southland and he had only seen occasional pairs about Mossburn in the river-beds. They kept togethor and did not mix with the black-backed Larus Domiriicanuk , The Buller's gull is easily identified from its near relative the mackerel gull owing to the fact that the l.i '■ is always blaJc. Mr Gibb also told me that the stiits were oreeding in numbers in the swaipps and round lagoons adjacent to his homestead, and this disposed of an idea held by some local naturalists that the stilt did not breed in Southland. Buller's gull is a rare bird pretty well throughout New Zealand, it is however, found in numbers 011 the Buller river. It does not usually come to the seaside, and in fact appears there very rarely. L is an inland bird frequenting the lakes and rivers. Its diet also appears to be cntirely different from its seaside cousins, for it is said to feed mostly on moths and insects which are generally plentiful among tussocks. In general appearance it is very like the little mackerel gull (Larus Scopulinus) which is to be found commonly at the Bluff. Larus Scopulinus is the littie gull which rnay be seen any day on the small strip of beach below the Freezing Works at the Bluff. It is a never failing sourco of entertainment to picnicers on the beach. With its pearly grey wings and back, and red bill and feet, it is always admired. It is said that this gull is an mvoterate tbief and will watch an oyster catcher extracting a dainty morsel, and will thereupon chase the rightful owner until it secures the tit-bit for itself. I was much amused to see one of these gulls on one occasion cheekily abstract a sandwich laid down by a litLe kiddie. While the youngster indulged in a copious draught of tea the gull lxopped up and decamped with. the sandwich, much to the boy's chagrin. This gull does not usually leave the seaside but occasionally it is to found inland. The other gull common at the Bluff, round the ceasts, and inland, where it is to be seen following the plough in huiidreds, is the black-backed gull. This bird is not nearly so friendly as the little mackerel gull but at the Bluff it is fairiy tame. It will be noticed that some of these gulls are brown and not black. These are the ycung birds. It has been stated that it takes about four years before the young birds takes on adult plumage. Some years ago information trelating to the hahit of the black-backed gull in attaeking sheep was published in a local nature coiumn. Any notes on this and the other two gulls would he weleomed. Information as to their habits is not be had in any quantity, and is wanted. For the benefit of country readers who may chance 011 a nest of the Buller's gull it may be said that the, tgg is broadly oval- -though they vary much in shape— is greyish white in colour and freckled with purplish brown markings. Mr T. H. Potts describes the eggs as much handsomer and boldetr in marking than those of otlmr species. One to two eggs are laid in a nest.

My statement that the rainfall of .ungland is about 30 inches has been challenged by some of those who lately enjoyed the hospitality of that country. Some think that the Old Country is a dull wet country but meteorological recordg do not support this. There are some very wet places in England but the South is comparatively dry. A rainfall map of the British Isles for last March which I have before me shows that tho average over a laige part of England for that month was two inches. The weather of London was as follows : Rainfall a little over half an inch, thirty-three hourg sunshine, eleveu wet days. Sunshine is apparently a scarce commodity in London. Fort William with nineteen inches of rain is the highest ehown, while of the other towns listed only Endinburgh had more than two inches. The climate of Britain cannot be so bad as same of our Diggers make out, for it must be remembered that in agriculture alone, she produces about as much as New Zealand.