travellers on the narrow paths not often traversed; and they might still remain for long were it not for the destructive animals that have come with the Europeans. Rats have committed great havoc, amongst those especially which lay their eggs upon the ground, and wild cats have found their way into the very depths of the forests. It is difficult—almost hopeless now—to obtain any remains of the Solitaire, still more so of the Dodo, birds a century or two ago plentiful enough to be caught for food by sailors frequenting the islands they inhabited. So it will soon be with the Apteryx in the South Island, and, as Mr. Buller says, the last Apteryx oweni may go into a “gold-digger's pie.” There are persons who earn a livelihood yet by catching “Maori hens,” as they call them, and destroy hundreds for the purpose of providing these luxuries. There may be some excuse for the hungry miner, but none for the epicures of our towns who encourage the destruction of the beautiful tui, hung up in numbers for sale in the open light of day. The New Zealand Institute, under the able superintendence of its accomplished and energetic Director, Dr. Hector, F.R.S., has done much; its “Transactions” have made New Zealand known more in foreign lands than it otherwise would have been, and have gone far to redeem the colonists from the character attributed to them by more than one writer, of being a community entirely absorbed in the pursuit of gain. Now is the time, when peace prevails, and interest in things of the past is not totally lost amongst the Maori themselves, for all its members, who have the opportunity, to exert themselves in this direction. Much might be done, possibly many old memorials which might throw light upon the past might be rescued from oblivion, were the agents now employed in all parts of this island instructed to avail themselves of the opportunity afforded by their intimate communication with the elders of the different tribes, whilst carrying out negotiations for the purchase of their ancestral domains, to obtain all the information practicable regarding subjects of interest to the world at large. The memory of such useful labours will secure the gratitude of future generations to this when all its other doings are utterly forgotten.