TRANSACTIONS 



OF THE 



NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE, 



1908. 



Akt. I. — On the Nestimj Habits of Rhipidura flabellifera. 



I By W. W. Smith. 



[Read before the Manawatu Philosophical Society, IQth March, 1908.] 



The native fantails or fly-catchers are, by their abundance and airy and 

 graceful evolutions on the wing when in pursuit of their tiny prey, perhaps 

 the best-known birds at the present time in the New Zealand avifauna. 

 By reason of there being few ornithological observers in the early days of 

 settlement, and the rapid extinction of species proceeding meanwhile, the 

 latter have nearly all vanished without science knowing anything — or, at 

 least, very little — of their nesting habits, or of the respective periods of time 

 occupied during their incubation. Although the late Sir Walter BuUer has 

 given a good general history, with very perfect delineations of each species, 

 only in three cases has he referred to their approximate time - periods of 

 incubation. His great industry during his early life in compiling general 

 and accurate histories of all species coming under his observation occupied 

 his full time, and frequently prevented him from observing and noting 

 their several and perfect habits and full periods of hatching. It may there- 

 fore be of interest to members of our Society to have complete and accurate 

 notes on the nesting habits of the fantail, from the hour of lacing the first 

 twig on to -the forked site of the nest to that of the four young fledglings 

 reared therein leaving it for the 'first time. 



For many years two pairs of these charming little birds have built 

 their nests in Mr. W. Park's garden at " The Wattles," Palmerston North. 

 On hearing of this a year ago, and being much interested, I requested Mr. 

 Douglas Park to observe and make absolutely accurate notes of the brood 

 or broods of young fantails. With kindly and commendable patience and 

 perseverance Mr. Park, jun., daily closely observed and accurately noted 

 all phases of life of the parent birds when engaged nesting. 



On the 9th August, 1907, a pair began to construct a nest in the fork of 

 a climbing rose trained on the outside of a summer-house in the shade of 

 native trees. After working earnestly and many hours per day for four 

 days the birds apparently became displeased with their work and discon- 

 tinued operations. Inside the roof of the summer-house some stems of 

 clematis have grown down through the air-passages and formed a small com- 

 pact network of growth. On one of these stems the fantails chose a site for 



1— Trans. 



