Handly.— Ou some Specks of Neiv Zealand Birds. 361 



twenty or thirty specimens may often be noticed %Yithin quite 

 a small radius. 



Parson-bird {Prostheniadera novce-zealandice, Gml.). 

 A rapidly-diminishing species. 



Bell-bird [Anthontis inelaiiura, Sparrm.). 



The bell-bird, familiarly called the "mocker," still holds 

 its own, and is to be met with in most unlikely places, 

 frequenting alike the scant open scrub and Pliormium along 

 the sea-shore, and blind gullies winding amid arid hills, as well 

 a,s the virgin bush. Along the bridle-track leading from Picton 

 to the Grove, during the Easter of 1894, it was particularly 

 abundant — the bush seemed to swarm with them ; but upon 

 reaching the Mahakipawa goldfields, but a few miles distant, 

 the following da)', none were observed. A nest now in my 

 possession was found built in and over that of a song-thrush 

 (T. viusiais). 



Blight-bird {Zosterops lateralis, Lath.). 

 Very common. 



Bush-wren {Xenicus longipes, Gml.) ; Rock-wren {X. gil- 

 vivcntris, Pelz). 



Both species are now principally restricted to the back- 

 ranges, the former predominating. 



Rifieman {Achanthidositta cJdoris, Sparrm.). 

 Numerous in the Sounds district. 



Yellow-head Canary {Orthonyx ochrocephala) . 



Common, though never associated together in large flocks. 



Fern-bird {Sphenceacus fulvus, Gray). 

 Seldom obtained. 



Grey Warbler {Gerycjone fiaviventris, Gray). 



Very common ; frequenting the gardens and hedgerows 

 during the wmter months. 



Brown Creeper {Certhipariis novce-zealandice, Gml.). 

 Common. 



Yellow-breasted Tit (Petroica macrocephala, Gml.) ; South 

 Island Wood-robin (P. albifrons, Gml.). 

 Both very common. 



Ground-lark {Anthxis novce-zealandice, Gml.). 



The introduction of ground-vermin and the laying of poi- 

 soned grain for small birds are the factors largely responsible 



