^°';^^'^'] M'Lkan, Bush-Birds of New Zealand. 229 



diameter, situated towards the otlier end of the oval. As the 

 nest was phiced with its longer axis at an angle of about 30° to 

 the horizon, and the tunnel was horizontal, the entrance opened 

 towards the upper part of the egg-chamber. This cavity is lined 

 with brush-Uke particles of brown fern-down and very fine moss, 

 well felted together. Its most characteristic feature is the long, 

 tunnel-like entrance through the thickest and most closely woven 

 part. No feathers can be felt among the lining of the nest, 

 which, however, seems finished. Reference to the "Birds of New 

 Zealand," vol. i., pp. 108, 112, 115, and 250, and to " Animals of 

 New Zealand," p. 112 et seq., will show that the different members 

 of the family Xenicidce construct very similar nests, and also 

 place them in situations much the same. The eggs of this bird 

 are white. 



The Rifleman is not uncommon in the higher wooded ranges 

 of the East Coast district, but is never seen outside them. 



Glaucopis wilsoni — Blue-wattled Crow. 



Buller, " Birds of New Zealand " (2nd edition), vol. i., p. i. 



The Blue-wattled Crow, which is restricted to the North 

 Island and one or two of its islets, was always local in its habitat, 

 and is now regarded as a rare bird in New Zealand ; so I was 

 perhaps fortunate in meeting with it in this Maunga-Haumia 

 country in each year. In igo6 it was observed in parties of from 

 four to seven during April and May, but in midwinter little was 

 seen or heard of the birds, when, owing, no doubt, to their dislike 

 to the noise of the falling timber, they retired further up the 

 sheltered Mangamaia valley of tawhera and mixed bush, which, 

 for that year, remained unfelled. In September and October odd 

 pairs were about my third camp, where the surrounding lighter 

 bush was in touch with the main forest, and remained to the last 

 days of my stay before being felled. However, in the following 

 winter they were occasionally to be met with about the scrubby 

 parts of the southern side, where, in one particular patch, a 

 pair or two remained until the felling forced them further back, 

 in October, to the adjoining standing bush. It was thought that 

 possibly the parties seen in autumn were composed of adults and 

 their full-grown young ; but, as none was ever shot, I cannot be 

 sure of this. In spring I never saw more than two birds together, 

 and sometimes a single bird would be noticed feeding by itself 

 about the scrub or on the ground. They were not observed or 

 heard upon the higher ridges, but seemed content in the lower 

 valleys of tawhera and other light timber, paying an occasional 

 visit to the adjoining denser tawa slopes. 



To the writer's mind, the Crow can hardly be called inquisitive. 

 Although displaying some caution or shyness on first acquaintance, 

 it will eventually allow a near approach to be made, and may 

 then be observed at close quarters ; but it was noticeable that 

 the bird's first care, on hearing steps in the bush, was to place 



