Go to National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa
Volume 15, 1882
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Birds.

The most common birds on the island are the penguins. Of these there are four different kinds occurring, either separately or mixed, in rookeries scattered at intervals all round the coast. They were all incubating at the time of my visit.

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Aptenodytes pennanti, “King Penguin.”—These build no nest. They lay their single egg anywhere in the rookery, often in running water, and sit over it, tucking it with their feet into the fold in the lower part of their abdomen. The egg is large and much pointed at one end. The young are almost as large as the adults, but are covered with a thick brown coat of down. A few of the females were sitting at the time of my visit. The King Penguins have not been known to migrate.

Eudyptes schlegeli, “Royal Penguin.”—More numerous than the other varieties. They build a nest of stones, in which they lay three eggs as a rule. They are said to discard their first egg. The young are coloured like the adults with the exception of the yellow crest. The “Royals” leave the island in June, and return in October.

Eudyptes filholi, “Victoria Penguin.”—These also build a nest of stones and lay two or three eggs. Their rookeries are generally among the rocks. The young are coloured like the adults, but have no crests. They, like the “Royals,” leave in June and return in October.

Pygoscelis tœniala, “Rockhopper.”—A name much more suited to the “Victorias” than to this variety. They have their rookeries amongst the tussock and build nests of grass. Their eggs, of which there are generally two or three, are generally much rounder than those of the other penguins. The young are coloured like the adults. They have not been known to migrate.

Ossifraga gigantea, “Nelly,” “Stinkpot.”—Lives in rookeries, generally inland. Builds grassy nests, in which are usually two eggs. The females were sitting at the time of my visit.

Phalacrocorax carunculatus, Shag.—Was also incubating. Dr. Buller, who saw my specimen, named it as above.

Prion banksii, “Night-bird.”—Makes its nest in burrows under the tussocks, where it can be heard during the day cooing like a dove. It leaves its nest at night and picks up its food at sea, a short distance from the land.

Platycercus novœ-zealandiœ, Parroquet.—Same as New Zealand form. Occurs in great numbers round the shore. Makes its nest under tussocks.

Ocydromus, “Maori Hen.”—I only saw one specimen of this bird. Its plumage was of a bright reddish-brown colour.

Rallus macquariensis.—Much smaller than the “Maori hen,” and not at all uncommon. There seemed to be two varieties—one, slightly the larger, was reddish in colour, the other was black.

Lestris antarctica, “Sea Hen,” “Skua Gull.”—Most of the eggs of this gull are hatched by the end of November. The nests are, as a rule, at a considerable elevation above the sea. The adults are as savage and predatory as they are in other parts, and it is not quite safe to go inland without a stout stick.

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I did not see any nests of the ordinary white gull, which is also common on the shore.

The sealers told me that teal were occasionally seen on some of the little lakes among the hills. I did not, however, see any.

I was also informed that an albatross nest was once found on the high land towards the south end of the island. This was some years ago, and none had been observed since then.