218 Transactions. 



A j)oint worth investigating is the variation in the song of this bird in 

 different localities. The notes of the Longwoods bird vary a little from 

 those of the Seaward Bush songster, but the song of the Titiroa Forest 

 bird is altogether different. It consists mainly of a beautiful descending 

 trill. Possibly, however, the Titiroa form belongs to the subspecies sylvestris 

 Potts. 



In the work of nest-building the female warbler does practically all 

 the work. The male may be heard singing near at hand, and occasionally 

 he may visit the site and bring with him a fragment of material, but the 

 bulk of the work is left to his mate. The beautiful domed nest does not, as 

 is popularly imagined, hang suspended from a twig, but is securely stayed 

 in position, one or more stout sprays passing through the thick lower portion. 

 Though occasionally conspicuous, it is usually well concealed, and is not 

 infrequently hidden in quite dense growth. A thin framework of the nest 

 is first put together, much cobweb being used to bind the materials. When 

 this stage is completed the lining-material is thrust through the aperture, 

 and at intervals the hen bird enters the structure and may be seen vigorously 

 moving about, the walls of the nest being pushed out in all directions as she 

 arranges and consolidates the inner layers. In Southland, if the weather 

 is not unfavourable, nest-building commences early in September, and at 

 least two broods are reared during the season. 



South Island Fantail (Rhipidura flabellifera flabellifera Gmelin). 



On reference to my notes I find that more than a dozen instances of the 

 crossing of pied and black fantails have come under my observation during 

 the past ten years. Only a few instances in which both birds were pied, 

 and but one case in which both parents were black, have been noticed during 

 the same period. I entertain no doubt that we have here an interesting 

 case of dimorphism, and that consequently the tw^o forms should be placed 

 under one species. An analysis of ten broods of mixed parentage gives 

 the following results : — 



Black. Pied. Total. 



1 1 2 



12 3 



1 2 3 



12 3 



2 1 3 



1 3 4 



13 4 



2 2 4 

 2 2 4 

 2 3 5 



14 21 35 



I was, unfortunately, unable to ascertain the particulars of th(^ brood 

 of which both parents were black, the birds having disappeared during 

 my absence from the locality. 



Both parents work industriously at the building of the nest, but I think 

 that the female is the leading spirit. On one occasion I observed the male 

 bring a fiake of fuchsia-bark and deposit it in the nest, but on the hen 

 bird's next visit she picked this out and carried it several yards away. In 

 hot weather the nestlings suffer much from the heat, and lie with their 



