Notes from New Zealand: A Book of Travel and Natural History

To see the endemic wildlife of New Zealand--tuatara, a primitive reptile; the flightless kiwi; and three species of rare frogs--syndicated nature columnist Kanze made three trips to the country in five years; on the last two visits he joined scientific expeditions surveying the tuatara populations on offshore islands. Here Kanze takes us on an entertaining, adventurous tour of New Zealand's forests, parks and beaches and on a grueling three-day hike on the famed Milford Track. Working with biologists who captured tuataras at dusk, took blood samples, then returned them to their burrows was arduous but rewarding. Kanze observed penguins, albatrosses and parrots, but the kiwi remained elusive. Ultimately, however, his personal mission was fulfilled: he spotted a kiwi directly in front of him and, taking a last walk in the bush, discovered a frog. Photos not seen by PW . (June)