^^'i^""'] OLU'EK, nirds of Little Barrier Island. 51 



is discovered, they crowd round him with much chatteriiif;- and excite- 

 ment. But in a little while, their curiosity being satisfied, or having 

 decided that no harm is intended, they continue on their way. They 

 build their nests in the bush on the lower levels. 



Creadion carunculatus. Saddleback. — The Saddleback has not been 

 seen on Little Barrier Island since 1882, so may be presumed to be 

 extinct in that locality. It was first noted in 1862 by Layard, who saw- 

 but a single specimen, which he procured." In December, 18(J7, Hut- 

 ton landed on the east coast of the island, and recorded it as being 

 very common. f Lastly Reischek states that it was rare in 1880, and 

 still scarcer in 1882.t 



Anthornis melanura. Bellbird. — This is without doubt the most 

 common species of bird on Little Barrier Island. Everywhere from 

 dawn to dusk the forest rings with their musical notes. They seem 

 most noisy when feeding; but sometimes they appear to collect to- 

 gether in a tree for the express purpose of singing. On such occasions 

 they take no notice of the visitor who stops to listen with amazement 

 at an impromptu concert of rich, sweet music. Many of their calls 

 resemble those of the Tui, in fact probably the species mimic each 

 other, so that the most practised bushman cannot be sure of the bird 

 until he has actually seen it. There are several distinct calls, the 

 birds in each locality answering one another with the same notes. 

 Thus in passing through the bush one may hear a certain call in one 

 place and a different one further on. Returning, it may be found 

 that the birds in the first locality have changed their tune. The Bell- 

 birds are quite fearless, and, altogether disregarding the visitor, in- 

 cessantly search for insects, nectar and fruit. They may be ob- 

 served from a distance of a few yards, climbing about the trunks and 

 branches of trees, carefully examining every chink and crevice for 

 insects and spiders. They love the peaches in the caretaker's orchard, 

 and their delight is expressed by a continuous whistling to one an- 

 other. But they destroy more peaches than they eat, for partly eaten 

 fx'uit is often knocked off and is left on the ground to rot. 



Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae. Tui. — The Tui is very common, 

 though not so often seen as the Bellbird. Besides a number of calls 

 indistinguishable from those of the Bellbird, Tuis have many charac- 

 teristic of themselves. They are frequently seen in pairs, often chas- 

 ing one another through the bush with a swift, noisy flight. Often 

 they fly high over the bush when moving from place to place. 



Notiomystis cincta. Stitchbird.— This beautiful species is n'_"w quite 

 extinct on the mainland. On Little Barrier Island, where onlj. it sur- 

 vives, it frequents the forest high upon the mountain slopes. In pass- 

 ing up the tract to the summit a few can nearly always be seen. On 

 discovering the visitor, they act much in the way that Whiteheads do. 

 They come hopping excitedly tow^ards him, calling "tee-tee-tee . . "^ 

 until quite close. When their curiosity is satisfied or resentment over- 

 come, they may sit on a twig and preen their feathei's, or else con- 

 tinue their search for food, which consists of nectar from flowers,^ 

 succulent fi-uits and insects. A nesting site chosen was a hole in 

 a tree. Here they built year after year, merely making up a new 

 nest on top of the old one. 



Zosterops lateralis. Silver-eye (Waxeye). — Very plentiful, usually 

 seen in small flocks. They make small hanging nests in manuka 

 scrub on the lower slopes. Like the Honeyeaters already mentioned, 

 they feed on soft-bodied insects, nectar from flowers, and succulent 

 fruits. In the caretaker's orchard they pick out the pulp from holes 

 in peaches and figs made by Bell birds and Tuis. 



* "Ibis," 186.3, p. 244. 



t Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. i.. p. 104, 1869. 



i Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xix., p. 188, 1887. 



