Kingsley. — Zoological Notes. 239 



1884, referred to in vol. xvii., page 199, and spoken of there 

 as Mus maorium. 



The nest does not show any large amount of architectural 

 skill, and is composed chiefly of the dead leaves of sedge and 

 Cordyliuc, with a few dead leaves from trees. 



I am informed that the flat whereon these nests were found 

 is liable during floods to be submerged. 



I am unaware that this arboreal nesting habit of the rat has 

 been observed before. 



Addendum. — The foregoing paper elicited further informa- 

 tion respecting the occurrence of nests in trees. From Motueka 

 and Eiwaka, Mr. F. Huffam and Mr. H. White give instances 

 of finding nests in branches of trees and shrubs. Mr. J. Dall, 

 of Collingwood, is also well acquainted with numerous in- 

 stances, and several persons in Nelson have also observed the 

 same, while Mr. Eichmond Hursthouse assures me that years 

 ago in Taranaki he used to find the nests of the small bush- 

 rat at some considerable altitude from the ground, generally 

 concealed among the foliage of kiekie (Freycinetia banksii). 



I may add that all observers are unanimous in declaring 

 the species with the arboreal habit as being identical with the 

 small bush-rat of 1884, and this therefore tends to prove that 

 there are still survivors among us of that great invasion. 



Paryphanta hochstetteei. 



The specimens of land mollusca exhibited were collected on 

 my recent visit to West Wanganui. They were found at a 

 place not more than 50ft. or 60ft. above sea-level, and where 

 the bush had been partially cleared away. I took note of the 

 surroundings, and found that on each occasion when success 

 rewarded our search it was either more or less under the 

 shade of hinau trees (Elcsocarjms dentatus), the berries from 

 which were strewn on the ground. The mollusca may very 

 easily be overlooked, as they lie very close generally, in a 

 small depression (self-made, I presume) in the ground, and 

 underneath the dry leaves and rubbish. I did not think these 

 were hochstetteri, as the usual habitat is at a considerable 

 altitude, but Professor Hutton has kindly examined them,, 

 and has so identified them. 



