•] M'I>EAN, Bush-Birds of New Zealand. 6q 



Dracophyllmn. U is called " s})ider-wood " by the bushmen, not 

 on account of any external j)eculiarity, but because the stem, 

 when cut diagonally, shows a fanciful reseniblance, in its pith 

 and radiations, to a spider in its web. 



The charm of the Robin lies in its tameness and in its song. 

 As one enters its domain, the bird, with soft, silent flight, flits 

 to some low branch near by, and, after a moment's gaze, drops 

 to the ground, and, tripping about in front of the observer with 

 short, elastic steps, soon stops to pick among the fallen leaves, 

 where, judging by the frequent captures made, much insect life 

 lies hidden. At lunch-time it is occasionally an interested 

 onlooker, and has been seen to pick up crumbs and pieces of 

 biscuit thrown towards it. It was amusing to see a bird one 

 day raising itself on its long legs to peer over my boots as if to 

 ask for more. But it has not the inquisitiveness of the Pied Tit, 

 and, once satisfied with its inspection, resumes its avocations in 

 the scrub. Neither does it wander through the bush in the rest- 

 less manner so peculiar to that bird, but is, perhaps, our quietest 

 and most stay-at-home species. Although occasionally seen as 

 a solitary onlooker, after the crowd has dispersed, it never takes 

 any part in the disturbances of other birds. I have seen the 

 Robin about my spring camp, which was on the edge of its 

 country, but it was not the frequent visitor I should have wished. 

 It sang in the trees near by, but never, so far as I could see, came 

 close to our tents or visited the scraps as other species did. It 

 was almost invariably seen in pairs, each having its own particular 

 stretch of scrub ; and it allowed no intrusion whatever of others 

 of its kind. This was rather remarkable from so quiet a bird. 

 Passing through the scrub one day a Robin came and settled 

 close by. Shortly after another came to see me, and was at once 

 set upon by the first-comer, who seized it by the feathers of its 

 neck and forced it, with many painful cries and the loss of some 

 of its plumage, to leave the spot. Other species, too, are driven 

 from its home. 



Most of its food, which, so far as I have ever found, consists of 

 insect life, is obtained upon the ground. There, or within a few 

 feet of it, the bird is generally observed ; and only when singing 

 does it mount to any height, when it shows itself upon the out- 

 standing branch of some higher tree to catch the sun. The 

 warbled trill of the Robin is rarely heard ; and perhaps this is 

 not so remarkable, for it is believed they pair for life. It was 

 first heard here on 6th Sej^tember, but has been noted earlier 

 elsewhere. It is not unlike that of the Pied Tit, but is delivered 

 more deliberately, in a somewhat lower key, and without its 

 frequent repetition. It is softer, too, but quite as musical. The 

 alarm note is a fairly rapidly repeated spluttering note, not 

 unlike that of the introduced Californian Quail ; and one some- 

 what similar note, but uttered for long stretches at a time, seems 

 to constitute an evening lullaby, for it is generally heard when 

 the birds are retiring for the night. Its song, however, is of ex- 



