Vol. XI 



■g,; J yi'LEAK, Bush-Birds of Nezv Zealand. 187 



The Wheau valley is, in spring, a great resort of the Tuis ; and 

 here in numbers each year it makes some stir when feeding in the 

 yellow blossoms of the kowhais which fringe the creek. Then 

 the valley echoes with then- song, and an additional charm is 

 given to this picturesque strip on the road that leads into the 

 Maunga-Haumia country. All around is practically grassed 

 country, but many little patches of bush remain in the scrubby 

 gullies of the neighbouring hills. There some remain the summer 

 through, and rear their young. Not many miles away some 

 build their nests in willows planted along a river-bank, in some- 

 what rougher country, and feed upon the flax and native trees in 

 the vicinity. There the nesting season is late, eggs being found 

 in October and November. In the main bush only one nest was 

 discovered. This was deserted on 27th September, when com- 

 ]:ilete, through the timber-fellers approaching the site. 



The nest of this bird, though well enough built in itself, is very 

 loosely placed in position amid the twigs, and is occasionally 

 blown out by heavy wmds. Below the willows mentioned above 

 nests were picked up on several occasions after heavy north-west 

 gales. The young birds, too, soon destroy its shape, and it is 

 rarely that one comes across the nest of a previous season. 



The Tui is the only one of our original Meliphagidce which, from 

 present indications, seems certain to survive. The Blight- Bird,* 

 though common in our shrubberies, is believed to be an Aus- 

 tralian colonist ; the Stitch-Bird (Pogonornis cincta) is now doubt- 

 less only to be seen on one or two of our smaller islands ; and the 

 Bell-Bird, though reported to have re-appeared in odd parts of 

 this island, is, I am afraid, unlikely to survive for any long time. 

 Were it not for our Tui, our bushes would, to the general observer, 

 indeed be lifeless, for none of those birds now left to us so sooii 

 give pleasant notice of its presence in the vicinity. He is, 

 whether heard or seen, our most vivacious bird, and shows to best 

 advantage amid the honey-producing flowers of his native trees. 

 From earliest morn to later eve, his varied notes sound in joyous 

 outburst, and ghmpses of his glistening plumage are caught amid 

 the leaves. He is in a position now to take advantage of the 

 wave of feeling for our birds which is slowly but surely spreading 

 over the land. That, with protection, together with his apparent 

 adaptability, will no doubt save to us this charming bird. 



Snakes in Bird-nests.— Tiger snakes are inveterate enemies to 

 young birds. Mr. S. A. Hanscombe informs me that only a short 

 time ago one of the scholars in the State school at Belltrees, N.S.W., 

 dug out a Bee-eater's {Merops) nest, and found therein a tiger snaked 

 four feet long. Moral : never put your hand into the nesting hollow 

 of any bird without first seeing the end. D. Le Souef. Melbourne. 



♦ Opinions difter as to the position of Zosterops. 



