Contents

COVER : A bottlenose dolphin launches itself into the sunset of Fiordland’s Doubtful Sound. Leaping in dolphins can be a sign of agitation, and is also associated with male aggression, but surely it can be just a surge of exhilaration as well!
CONTENTS - Features :
A FIN AND A PRAYER [Doubtful Sound is home to a population of bottlenose dolphins which has been more extensively studied than any other in the country. These dolphins have made many accomodations to the unusual conditions of Fiordland]; THE GHOSTS OF QUAIL ISLAND [It has been called Canterbury’s only island - a cruel exaggeration - but it is tiny and tucked away within Lyttelton Harbour. Yet, despite it’s dimensions, it has seen more than its share of human actiivity];
SOUTHLAND : A WINTER JOURNEY [Two Wellingtonians set out to discover the essential character of our southernmost province during its most bracing season]; REFLECTING ON GREBES [Despite such intriguing habits as ferrying its young on its back and eating its own feathers, the southern crested grebe is a little known species];
THE DECLINE AND FALL OF WILLIAM SWAINSON [Esteemed and honoured by scientific societies worldwide, English illustrator and naturalist William Swainson seemed assured of a solid place in history. Then he emigrated to New Zealand];
CONTENTS - Departments :
VIEWPOINT [on treelessness]; GEONEWS [Another stoat summer; kaka recovery; mangere stonefields; human genome; Antarctic environment; buckyballs and the PT boundary; rare crystalworts]; WEATHER [Southern hemisphere weather]; BOOKS [2000 Yearbook, Genome, Dancing Leaves]; COMING UP [What’s in store];