99 



\i:\v zr.ALwi) Hinns. 



"This elegant little bird l)elongs to the Nortli Island, wlierc it has 

 a pretty general distribntion, being met with in all localities snited 

 to its habits. It is a familiar species, seeking the habitations of 

 man, and taking np its abode in liis gardens and orchards. It is 

 always to be seen in the clearings and cnltivated grounds near the 

 bush, moving about in a peculiar fitful manner, and in the early 

 morn may be heard uttering a prolonged trilling note, very sweet and 

 plaintive. Its usual attitude is with the wings slightly lowered and 

 the tail perfectly erect, almost at a right angle with the body. It 

 has a sparkling black eye, and all its actions are lively and sprightly. 

 The strongly-contrasted plumage of the male bird renders it a con- 

 spicuous object; but the female, owing to her sombic colours and 

 less obtrusive colours, is rarely seen."- — liuLmit. 



27. PetrcBca macroeephala. Gml. 



Yellow-brkasted Tit. 



Ilead, neck, and back jet-black, witli a wliito spot over the bill ; below, yellow, very 

 bright on the breast, and gutting gradually jialcr as it approaches the vent ; wings, brown- 

 ish-black, some of the primaries with a spot, and the secondaries with a band, of white; 

 tail, blackish-brown, the tliree outer feathers witii a bajid of white. 



Female. — Above, brown, with a small white spot over the bill ; throat, brownish-white ; 

 abdomen, yellow ; wings and tail like the male, but the white on tlie wings tinged with 

 yellow. 



The young birds of each sex are coloured like the adults, but the tints are not eo pure, 

 and paler. 



Mnlc.—lj., 5 ; W., 3 ; B., fi ; T., 9. 



Female.— Jj., 475 ; W., 2S5 ; B., -55 ; T., -85. 



Fgcj. — White, with spots of purplish-grey, often forming a ring near (he larger end ; 

 lengtii, "75 ; breadth, '6. 



Hah. — South Island ; Chatham Islands ? 



" The Yellow-breasted Tit is the South Island rcpresciitative of 

 the preceding species, which is only found nortli of Cook Strait. 

 It appears, however, to enjoy a wider geographical range ; for I 

 obtained specimens at the Ciiatham Islands, and the Antarctic Expe- 

 dition brought some from Auckland Island. 



" The habits of this species are similar to those of its northern 

 ally {M. toitoi) , except that it appears to be less recluse in its manner 

 of nidification." — Bullkk. 



'^ This familiar little bird is one of the most elaborate nest- 

 builders amongst the denizens of the bush, or, rather, of its outskirts. 

 The nest varies much in shape, according to position : frequently we 

 have found it in the holes of trees ; and a favourite site is imme- 

 diately under the head of the ti tree [Cordyline austruUs). Two 

 nests which we presented to the Canterbury Museum were of re- 

 markable shape: one, a firm compact structure, placed in the forked 

 head of a ti tree, resembled a very neat moss basket with a handle 

 across the top ; the second, also from a ti tree, owing, perhaps, to the 



