187 NATURAL HISTORY NOTES IN NEW ZEALAND. 
There are two robins, very much alike, but with a difference— 
one being confined to the North Island, and the other to the South 
Island (PETRa@cA LONGIPES and P. Aupirrons). The former I have 
frequently seen in its sombre plumage of slaty grey in the bush 
south of the Manawatu river, but I am very familiar with the South 
Island robin. In the depths of the forest it will accompany one for 
long distances, and, perching within arm’s length, will occasionally 
burst into an ecstatic song of short duration, but of rich melody. Its 
plumage is of a sooty black, except the breast, which is creamy white. 
If the English robin were painted in these colours one would get the 
true Coloniul robin. Querulous, impertinent in its poise of head, 
and in its curiosity, it-is a counterpart of the English robin, but in 
size it is somewhat larger. 
Two tits represent the North and the South Islands respectively 
(Perraca ‘ror-ror and P. MAcRocEPHALA), the pied and the yellow 
breasted. They are very much alike in habit and in plumage, and 
no doubt once belonged to the same stock. The size of both is about 
that of the cole-tit. 
The ground lark (AntHUs Nov# ZEALANDI#£) is. without the 
vocal attainments of its introduced British rival, but its plumage is 
very much the same. 
Again, the fantails (RHIPIDURA FLABELLIFERA and R. EULIG- 
INOsA), the pied and the black, are representatives of North and 
South. Though I have repeatedly seen both as far south as Otago, 
the black fantail is not found in the North Island. Both are far 
from being shy, and, with their tails spread out, they would search 
the veranda and, if a door or window were open, would enter and 
hunt the corners of the rooms for a stray spider. 
The saddle-back (CREADION CARUNCULATUS) used to be fairly 
plentiful in the Marlborough Sounds, but it is difficult now to find 
one. The characteristic marking of the back gives the name to the 
bird. It is the only representative of the starling family. 
