220 Transactions. 



Tui {Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae novaeseelandiae Gmelin). 



The tui is not uncommon in the large forest areas, but appears to 

 favour the lowland mixed type ; not many are to be met with in the 

 Nothofagus mountain blocks. 



ZOSTEROPIDAE. 



White-eye {Zosterops lateralis tasmanica Mathews). 



The white-eye appears to build about the end of October in this district. 

 Apparently partial migration takes place in the winter, as the large flocks 

 which may be seen in the late autumn are represented by only twos and 

 threes in the spring. A great many, however, fall victims to the cat while 

 they are searching the vegetables and small-fruit trees for insects. 



MOTACILLIDAE. 

 South Island Pipit [Anthus novaeseelandiae novaeseelandiae Gmelin). 



Not uncommon in the open country round Invercargill. It is strange 

 that this bird, which nests and roosts on the ground, does not succumb 

 to the stoat in a district where these animals are so plentiful. On the 

 Hunter Mountains, at an elevation of 3,000 ft. to 4,000 ft., the pipit is 

 common, and I am of opinion that these alpine birds are much lighter in 

 colour than those found on the low country. 



ACANTHISITTIDAE. 

 Rifleman {Acanthisitta chloris chloris Sparrman). 



Plentiful in all forests, and extending to the bush-level on the mountains. 

 I have never met with one in the open or seen one flying from forest to 

 forest. 



ALCEDINIDAE. 



Kingfisher {Sauropatis sanctus forsteri Mathews and Iredale). 



About the middle of September a few kingfishers always visit the 

 outskirts of the bush districts, and may be seen and heard among the 

 scattered trees in the fields. During the winter they either migrate north- 

 wards or retire to the coastal areas. 



CUCULIDAE. 

 Shining Ouckoo {Lamprococcyx lucidus Gmelin). 



The shining cuckoo and the long-tailed cuckoo {Urodynamis taitensis 

 Sparrman) are certainly not so common as formerly near settlement, but 

 their rarity is simply the result of the clearing of the forest. In the 

 untouched forest areas both species are abundant in their season. In 

 the hill country the long-tailed species is common at all elevations, but 

 I have not met with th(^ shining cuckoo above 2,000 ft. 



BUBONIDAE. 



MoREPORK [Spiloglaux novaeseelandiae novaeseelandiae Gmelin). 



Throughout the winter months for the past four years a morepork 

 has lived in a small piece of bush within the Invercargill boundary. 

 During the day he could almost always be found perched under some tree- 

 fern fronds. Frequently several kinds of small birds would gather round 



