Philpott. — Notes on the Birds of South-western Otago. 207 



an appearance. In November, 1910, a group of four young birds — three 

 pied and one black — was observed. They were being fed by both old birds, 

 one of which was pied and the other black. In the following February 

 another family was found in the same locality, possibly a second brood of 

 the former birds. In this instance also there were four young birds, but 

 the varieties were equally divided. Only one parent was in attendance, 

 and it was a black one. In December, 1911, another mixed brood was 

 met with. Both parents were present, one black and the other pied, and 

 of the young birds two out of the three were pied. During the summers 

 of 1910-11 and 1911-12 I noticed three broods in which both old and young 

 birds belonged to the pied form. At date of writing (6th August, 1913) a 

 nest has been commenced by a black and pied pair, both birds taking part 

 in its construction. In eight or nine days after leaving the nest the young 

 birds begin to catch a few insects, and in the course of another week they 

 are able to forage entirely for themselves. 



Tawny Fern-bird (Sphenoeacus fulvus). 



The fern-bird is becoming very rare in Southland, but is still to be found 

 in some of the more extensive swamps. 



Brown Creeper (Finschia novae-zealandiae). 



The brown creeper is still common where there are fairly extensive tracts 

 of bush, but near cultivated districts it is not so often seen as formerly. I 

 have several times come across the old birds feeding their young early in 

 February, so it is probable that they rear at least two broods in the year. 



Bell-bird (Anthornis melanura). 



The bell-bird is quite common in the neighbourhood of Invercargill ; in 

 fact, its numbers seem to be increasing. It can be found in almost every 

 plantation, and in the season of fruit-tree blossom it visits gardens in the 

 heart of the town. 



On the 18th October a nest was found containing three newly hatched 

 young ones. It was about 10 ft. from the ground, and was well concealed 

 under some dead hanging fronds of a tree-fern (Dicksonia fibrosa). The 

 parents brought insects — chiefly Tipulidae, I think — every few minutes. If 

 one parent was in the nest when the other approached, the latter gave a kind 

 of low clucking call, which Avas at once answered, and was followed by the 

 sitting bird leaving the nest. The female attacked me vigorously if I stood 

 too near the nest, snapping her beak and buffeting me on the head and 

 back. The male did not take much notice of my presence, nor did he give 

 much help in feeding the young after the first few days. The hen bird is 

 very careful to keep the nest clean, picking up and swallowing the smallest 

 particle of excrement which falls within it, and pushing the nestlings from 

 side to side in her search. When much alarmed she flies about near the 

 nest with drooping Avings, her fighting attitude, like that of many other 

 birds. From this wing-drooping posture the tactics of feigned helplessness 

 and broken wings have probably been evolved. I noticed no trace of the 

 latter on the bell-bird's part ; but her nest is quite hidden from view, so 

 that such methods would have little value. 



Though fed at first on a purely insect diet, the young birds soon learn 

 to probe the fuchsia -flowers for honey, and they may often be observed 



