Vol. xi.-j MT.KAN, Bush-Birds of New Zealand. 'Jl 



saplings, with their clean, white hark, contrasted strongly with 

 these dark old stagers. Intermixed with all grew the handsome- 

 headed grass-tree, and all was here and there overtopjied by 

 honeysuckle and tarata [Pitto^ponim eiigcnoides). The men were 

 busy scrubbing the smaller stuff : two following uj) with axes 

 for the few scattered larger trees — none over 12 inches. As I skirted 

 up through the scrub I noticed a Robin in the denser nei-nei, &c., 

 flying about my dog. While we chatted and boiled the billy — 

 it was 2 p.m. — the Robin was very near us all the time. One of 

 the men remarked that it was after crumbs ; but I thought 

 otherwise — it was too much concerned about my dog. I had not 

 gone halt a chain from the lire when I noticed a somewhat 

 larger patch of moss than usual in a tawhera fork, and, looking in — 

 it was only 5 feet up — was delighted to see a nest, upon which 

 was a female Robin. Instantly the birds became most excited, 

 both flying about the tree, and on one occasion one actually 

 attacked my hand and pecked it when, with my attention else- 

 where, I grasped a neighbouring branch. They were both very 

 much concerned — more so than at any previous nest I have seen. 

 On my leaving the nest and going down among the scrub for 

 further investigation, the female flew to the ground, and, trailing 

 her wings along, did all she could to attract attention. There were 

 two eggs, and T concluded, from the birds' behaviour, that they 

 were incubated. Everything was left, and instructions given to 

 the men not to fell near it. They will be up to it to-morrow, 

 and I must hurry and photograph it in the morning." Further 

 on in the same patch the other nest was found, in much the 

 same situation, but in another kind of tree. At this nest, which 

 contained three much-incubated eggs, the birds were not quite 

 so demonstrative. On the following day — 28th September — I 

 was early on the scene to get a picture, and found the female on 

 the nest. A photograph, at some distance, of her on the nest 

 was taken, but on moving closer up the bird became alarmed, 

 and never entered the nest again. At this time the male 

 appeared — fully an hour after my arrival. I had heard him 

 singing a chain or so away, and a short " Tweet-tweet " which the 

 female uttered seemed to have brought him. He was much 

 darker in colour than his mate. The men were now close up, 

 and, as the bird would not again visit the nest, some scrub was 

 cleared to let in more light, and a photograph of the nest obtained. 

 Then the nest and eggs were taken, and the tree left to its fate. 

 There was one consolation in all this : the patch of scrub was 

 near the standing bush, and, as these birds did not remain about 

 the felled country, no doubt they retired to it and there rebuilt 

 and reared their young, for that year at least, in peace. 



The Robin is almost gone from this district. Where I knew it 

 as common some years ago the scrub and bush have now all dis- 

 appeared. There is one valley in which it still remains — I will 

 not mention where — but another year or two will see the end. 



[It is hoped that the Dominion Government will proclaim sane- 



