218 Transactions. — Zoology. 



pigeons. The berries are much rehshed by the birds, and are 

 exceptionally nutritious and fattening. The nest of this 

 species is placed in the thickest branches of the white and 

 silver pines. As little wind blows in the spring in the forests 

 of the west coast, they experience few difficulties in rearing a 

 good brood annually. 



The plumage of the wood-pigeon high among the branches 

 is striking, the bronze-burnished pectus and white abdomen 

 contrast beautifully with the green forest around. 



Creadion carunculatus (Saddleback). 



This species is sometimes gregarious, and moves through 

 the bush during the colder months of the year in flights of 

 from a dozen to fifty or more together. Several of the old 

 gold-diggers on the Eiver Arnold informed me that they have 

 frequently observed flights of the saddleback following the 

 flights of canaries {Orthomjx ochrocepliala) as they fed through 

 the bush. Probably no scene in bird-life is more attractive 

 or beautiful than to observe a flock of yellowheads followed by 

 a flock of saddlebacks. On the 2nd June, 1887, I rambled up 

 Stoney Creek, a sm.all stream which flows into the lake a 

 little above the outlet of the Arnold. I had travelled on the 

 banks and bed of the creek about a mile when I turned to the 

 right, up a small narrow gully, in search of ferns or other 

 botanical rarities. On reaching nearly the top of the gully, I 

 heard the shrill, ringing notes of a flock of yellowheads. As 

 I noticed them crossing the gully some distance above me, I 

 moved on gently until I was under the branches on which the 

 birds were passing over the gully. They numbered about two 

 hundred, and were in rich plumage. They fed eagerly for 

 some minutes among the branches of the trees ; then, 

 simultaneously uttering their call, they flew forward some 

 yards and began to feed, until they again sounded the signal 

 to advance, repeating it at short intervals, and passed on 

 through the bush in this order. 



Before the yellowheads had quite disappeared I heard the 

 rich flute-notes of a flock of saddlebacks advancing. 1 climbed 

 up the side of the gully and stood on the edge. Two males 

 were the first to appear, followed by the remainder of the 

 flock. They advanced in the line of the yellowheads ; not so 

 high among the branches as the latter, but more among the 

 tree-ferns, while some fed among the ferns and mosses cover- 

 ing the ground. When they noticed me some approached 

 closely, twittering, and elevating their tails. They moved 

 about in a sprightly manner on the lower branches, within a 

 few feet of my face, scanning me carefully, and wondering, 

 perhaps, at the intruder on then- solitary domain. They were 

 exceedingly tame, and moved with great activity, halting at 



