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sportsmen and naturalists on account of the disappearance, through wanton slaughter, of the large game of South Africa. Look, for example, at the quagga, which is now on the verge of extinction. Forty years ago this fine animal might be counted by thousands on every valley and plain of the Cape Colony. At the present day, besides three mounted specimens in European museums, there are two living examples in the Zoological Gardens. Take these away, and the species is blotted out completely. In urging Ministers to take this subject under their serious consideration I may remind them that on the 16th December, 1886, the Secretary of the Auckland Institute wrote advising the purchase of the Little Barrier Island as a Government preserve, and that the Premier, Sir Eobert Stout, approved of this being done. The purchase was, I believe, strongly advocated by Professor Thomas and by Mr. A. Eeischek, the Austrian collector, both of whom had visited the island and inspected every part of it. At a recent meeting of the Otago Institute a resolution was passed authorising the Council of that body to move the Government to proclaim, Eesolution Island for this purpose. Eesolution Island having now been so proclaimed I would suggest that steps should be immediately taken for ascertaining to what extent Eesolution Island, is already stocked with kiwi and kakapo ; that a sufficient supply of these and other birds be at once obtained by purchase or otherwise from the mainland before it is too late, and turned loose both on this island and on the Little Barrier ; and that Captain Fairchild (who takes a keen interest in this project) should be instructed to call at these 'islands from time to time during the periodical cruises of the " Hinemoa," to ascertain if the birds are thriving, and to report results, with such practical suggestions and recommendations as he may be able to make for the furtherance of this plan of conservation. I would also, at the same time, suggest that Ministers should take into consideration the propriety of including some other native birds in the list of protected species. As I have already mentioned, the bell-bird, formerly so plentiful, has entirely disappeared from the North Island. But it is still very plentiful all over the South Island, and is a common denizen of the gardens and shrubberies in all the principal towns. This is the bird that so enchanted Captain Cook by its song when his ship lay at anchor in Queen Charlotte Sound more than a hundred years ago, and, having become historical, it would be a grievous pity for the bird to die out altogether. The general testimony goes to show that the protection extended to the tuis had the desired effect, this species being now more numerous everywhere than it was fifteen years ago. Would it not be well to extend the same protection to its small congener the makomako, whose haunts and habits are almost precisely similar ? Then, again, there is a bird famous in Maori history and poetry—remarkable for its singular beauty, and interesting to naturalists on account of its aberrant generic characters —a species confined to a very limited portion of the North Island, from which, owing to the eagerness of natural-history collectors and the inevitable progress of settlement in its native woods, it is fast disappearing. I refer, of course, to the huia (Heteralocha acutirostris), a bird which is naturally confined within such narrow geographical boundaries that I may describe its range as being limited to the Euahine, Tararua, and Eimutaka Mountain-ranges, with their divergent spurs and the intervening wooded valleys. The white-tipped tail-feathers of this beautiful bird have been from time immemorial the chief adornment of Maori chiefs as head-plumes ; and an incident connected therewith, in ancient times, led to the adoption of the name by the great ancestors of the Ngatihuia Tribe. As Ministers are aware, when selecting a Maori name for my infant son, to commemorate his New Zealand birth, I was induced, for several considerations, to give this name the preference over all others submitted to me; and I should therefore accept it as a compliment to my family if Ministers would exercise the power they possess, and throw over this bird the shield of Government protection.* I ask this the more readily on the ground that I have been moved to do so by the chiefs of the Ngatihuia Tribe. At the public function at Otaki, on the 12th September last, when I had the pleasure of presenting my son to the assembled tribes, a number of very complimentary speeches were made by the leading chiefs, and one of them, in referring to the name, said, "There, yonder, is the snow-clad Euahine Eange, the home of our favourite bird. We ask you, O Governor ! to restrain the pakehas from shooting it, that when your boy grows up he may see the beautiful bird which bears his name." The huia loves the deep shade of the forest, and as its home is invaded by the settler's axe it would, if protected from reckless destruction, simply retire higher up the wooded ranges, till it finally took refuge in the permanent forest reserve, which embraces all the wooded mountaintops within its natural domain. Under vigilant protection, therefore, the huia would have every chance of being preserved and perpetuated. Christchurch, Christmas Day, 1891. Onslow. * This has been done: vide Neio Zealand Gazette of the 25th February, 1892, page 402.

Sir James Hector, — Please read and suggest any action you may think fit. 30th December, 1891. J. Ballance.

Colonial Museum of New Zealand, Wellington, 11th January, 1892. The Hon. the Premier, — His Excellency's memorandum clearly expresses the views which have been discussed and formulated by various scientific authorities. As Government has already made, or is making, the

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