234 M'Lean, Bush-Birds of New Zealand. [is^Ap^rii 



working. It had been left for the last. This nest was placed 

 about 20 feet up in the large fork of a leaning tawhera, which 

 grew, with others of its kind, among heavy manuka and other 

 trees, in a small gully opposite the patch of nei-nei in which the 

 Robins' nests were found. A careful examination of the ground 

 after felling failed to discover any signs of eggs or young having 

 been thrown out by the fall. It was a large, rough structure, 

 the base being composed of small twigs of manuka and other trees, 

 much mixed with strips of manuka bark, rootlets, moss, and 

 leaves, fairly compactly built, but spread. The ends of the twigs 

 and pieces of bark projected somewhat outside the moss and leaves, 

 giving the nest a very irregular shape, but in the upper part there 

 were fewer large twigs and more bark, rootlets, and moss. There 

 was not much system except where the lining of the interior came 

 up over the edge. The cavity was fairly well lined, principally 

 with narrow strips of manuka bark worked in with moss, leaves, 

 and rootlets ; but, of course, I cannot say if it were complete, but 

 it appeared finished. It was unlike any nest I have ever seen, 

 and its features were its outward irregularity, looseness of con- 

 struction, and the marked disproportion in the size of the 

 materials used to each other, rough |-inch twigs being mixed 

 up indiscriminately with thin rootlets and moss. The cavity 

 was fairly deep, and seemed large for the size of the bird, 

 measuring 4.75 inches wide and 2.5 deep. The width of the nest, 

 with the straggling ends of the twigs, was about 16 inches, but 

 the more solid part would be about 11. In depth it measured 

 6.5 inches. I think there can be little doubt but that the above 

 nest belonged to the pair of birds which had kept so long to this 

 spot, and that the two were, among others, intending to remain 

 and nest in this valley during the approaching summer is 

 probable. 



The genus Glaucopis is confined to New Zealand, and there are 

 only two species — the present one, and G. cinerea, its repre- 

 sentative of the South Island, also much rarer than it formerly 

 was. Its affinities are said to be with the Australian Crows and 

 Bower-Birds ; and Dr. Gadow has said " if a Satin-Bird could be 

 induced to marry a Piping-Crow, their offspring might, in New 

 Zealand, become a Glaucopis " (see " Birds of New Zealand," 

 2nd edition, vol. i., p. 4). In this district the bird is still to be 

 met in a few places in the higher country, but will surely decrease. 

 It is so very local that, unless the bushes which in the end may 

 be reserved are specially suited to it, it will ere long be numbered 

 with our lost species. This is much to be regretted, for there is 

 still much to learn about it. The bird claims a high place in its 

 class ; in fact. Professor Parker states (see " Birds of New 

 Zealand," 2nd edition, vol. i., p. 4) : — " In all respects, physio- 

 logical, morphological, and ornithological, the Crow may be placed 

 at the head, not only of its own great series (birds of the Crow- 

 form), but also as the unchallenged chief of the whole of the 

 CarinatcB." 



