186 Transactions. — Zoology. 



Petroica longipes, Less. — Wood Kobin [Tototowai). 



This species is confined to the North Island, where it was 

 formerly plentiful, but is iiow only to be found in a few locali- 

 ties, and is very rare, and will soon become extinct like so many 

 other New Zealand birds. Dr. Buller told me that he could 

 not get a pair even at a high price. 



On the north-western slope of Hauturu Island, in October, 

 1880, I shot one female. In November, 1882, I went 

 to the centre of the island, where I saw several pairs. It 

 prefers secluded gullies, near creeks, and hops about on the 

 ground or in low scrub. The male sings very early in the 

 morning, and late in the evening. Only on one occasion have 

 I observed this bird singing on the top of a high tree, which it 

 did for a quarter of an hour. The song is very sweet and 

 powerful, and, when undisturbed, the bird is very tame. When 

 I was digging out various specimens of Procelkaia, this robin 

 always came round and picked up the worms and other insects 

 from under my hoe. On one occasion, when I was sitting on a 

 stump watching a long-tailed cuckoo devouring a large iveta, 

 with my gun across my knees, one of these robins came and 

 perched on the barrel. Often when at lunch, one or a pair 

 came and picked up the crumbs at my feet. If I threw a piece 

 of biscuit or meat, it was taken away a short distance and 

 eaten, and the recipient returned for more. At the commence- 

 ment of the breeding season, which begins in October, the 

 female lays fi'om 3 to 4 eggs ; each pair occupies a certain limit, 

 and if interfered with by others, the weaker is obliged to retreat. 

 Their food consists of insects and their larva;. I never met this 

 bird on my southern expeditions, and the only pair on the 

 mainland were those I saw on the Tohua Eanges. Early in 

 December, 1883, during my stay on Hauturu Island, tl^e 

 Natives found a nest with four young birds {Petroica lonijipcs), 

 but when I reached the spot the birds had flown. The nest, 

 which had evidently but recently been disturbed, was built of 

 moss, grass, etc., and in the niche of a tree. This bird reminds 

 me very much, in its movements and habits, of the European 

 robin [Ruhicida sylvestris) , and I felt it an act of vandalism to 

 shoot some for specimens. They are very useful birds, and 

 deserve every protection, 



Anthornis melanura. — Bell-bird [Korimaho). 



This bird is very common in the South Island of New Zea- 

 land, also on several small islands on the east coast. At 

 Whangarei Heads, in the Nortb Island, I saw one specimen 

 which was blown in a gale from Morotiri Island, and was in 

 such a state of exhaustion that it could hardly move, and died 

 in a few moments. On skinning, I found it very thin, the crop 

 being quite empty. I searched all the northern forests from 



