Smith. — On the Birds of Lake Brunner District. 219 



intervals, and resting their breasts for a few seconds on the 

 boughs, and again proceeded, searching eagerly for food among 

 the ferns and mosses covering the ground. They were in the 

 perfection of plumage. The saddle-shaped patch of rich 

 brown extending over the back and shoulders, on the lustrous 

 black ground, contrasted well with the deep green fronds of 

 the tree-ferns. The sexes were about equal, and the plumage 

 of some paler than others, which were young birds. They 

 remained hopping on the branches and ferns near me for 

 about seven minutes, and disappeared slowly in the track of 

 the yellowheads. 



The purpose served in the saddlebacks' economy in follow- 

 ing the flocks of yellowheads is unquestionably to obtain food. 

 The latter, in mo\dng through the bush, will disturb numerous 

 large insects, which they reject, and which are consumed by 

 the saddlebacks following them. The rich insect fauna in 

 some parts of the bush in Westland at certain seasons will 

 account for the appearance of flocks of the native insectivorous 

 bu'ds in these districts. The flights of yellowheads must be 

 entirely regulated by, or restricted to, the supply of food. 

 Where the bush remains in its primeval state they remain 

 numerous ; where it is partly cleared or disturbed, this species 

 and many others diminish in numbers and ultiinately vanish 

 from the locality. Although the saddlebacks are not dependent 

 on the flights of yellowheads for food, they are able to obtain 

 such by following them, and do not always travel in flocks, as 

 they are occasionally seen singly and in pairs, in some of the 

 gullies of the Arnold and around the lakes, but are now very 

 rare compared to the numbers which inhabited the banks of 

 the Arnold fifteen or twenty years ago. 



I was attracted early one morning in March towards some 

 old fallen and decayed timber, where I heard some peculiar 

 tapping sounds. On cautiously reaching the place I found a 

 saddleback busily digging in the decayed timber for the larvas 

 of the huhu beetle {Prionoplus reticularis). The tappings and 

 actions of the bird resembled much those of the green wood- 

 pecker (Picea viridis) of Britain in its mode of procuring 

 food. 



Ocydromus australis (South Island Weka). 



Common on the bushy slopes of the mountains on the 

 north side of the lake. It is more common in the valley of 

 the Crooked Eiver than near the shores. They are exceed- 

 ingly tame and inquisitive, and come about the tents, often 

 remaining around the camp for weeks, picking up crumbs of 

 bread or scraps of meat thrown out. When a number collect 

 near the camp it is almost impossible to sleep, owing to 

 their loud calls through the night. They give much trouble 



