896 Dr. O. Finsch's Ornithological 



Mr. Scaly^ ulio knows the Alps well, assured me that he 

 had found them breeding on Mount Cook. 



The same that I have said of the distribution of the Spar- 

 row is true also of the Sky-Lark, with the exception that 

 the latter frequents only the open eouutry. I found the 

 Sky-Lark all over the Mackenzie plains, on the hot lakes, and 

 even in the valley of the Tasman river, nearly as far as Mount 

 Cook. Although it was winter-time, everywhere was heard 

 its lovely song, which reminded me forcibly of the fact that 

 it was then spring at home. 



Anthus novce-zealandia is to be found in the same localities 

 as the Sky-Lark, and in some places, perhaps generally, more 

 common than the latter. In habits this species reminds one 

 most of our Anthus pratensis ] and so does his call-note. 

 Next to Anthus nova-zealandia I found Halcyon vagans the 

 most common species. This was the first bird I saw on the 

 rocky shores when I first put my foot on New Zealand at the 

 Bluffs, and the last land-bird I observed when I left the 

 colony at the Bay of Islands. Except in the Alps, I found 

 this Kingfisher nearly eveiywhere ; in the plains, in the scrubs 

 and woods, and even in the gardens of the villages it is fre- 

 quently to be observed. Like its congeners. Halcyon vagans 

 is not bound to waters, but keeps rather to an arboreal life, 

 although it comes down to the sea-shore. Near Ohinitaki, 

 on the bay of Lyttleton, the romantic and lovely residence of 

 Mr. Potts, I found Halcyon vagans more common than else- 

 where : at one time half a dozen might be seen together; and 

 Mr. Potts showed me, in a wall of clay or sand, numerous 

 nest-holes made by this Kingfisher. In some places a dozen 

 and more formed a sort o£ breeding-colony. In the same 

 locality the lovely Anthornis melanura was very common, and 

 its gay call-note resounded from the clusters of trees in the 

 fine park. I did not see this species in the North Island ; 

 but in both islands Rhipidura flabellifera and Miomoira toitoi 

 were plentiful, although only seen singly or in pairs. The 

 Fantail is a most amiable little creature, and by no means shy ; 

 in the house of Mr. Potts it entered the rooms fearlessly, 

 and caught flies just as it would do in the woods. Gerygone 



