WOOD AND WxiSTE 149 



it is a cup-shaped structure, the outer 

 layers composed of cutty grass, the inner 

 of grasses and pliable bents, but it is the 

 finishing touches that peculiarly mark the 

 nest. At the base of its interior, small 

 blue Pukeko feathers are so arranged that 

 their curly tops meet, and to a great extent 

 conceal the eggs. 



Ordinarily the species is shy, but in 

 spring the male loses to some extent his 

 timidity. He will then, regardless of the 

 presence of man, mount to the yery top of 

 a flax stick, climbing up in little runs, like 

 a mouse or a house fly. His tail is all 

 the time bent in towards the stem; indeed, 

 like a young bird swung in the air, the 

 Utick seems to use his tail for balancing.* 



He soon becomes accustomed to the 

 camera, and many of our photos this j^ear 

 were taken at the distance only of a few 

 feet. The nestlings were chiefly fed on 

 daddy long-legs, though occasionally moths, 

 grubs and caterpillars were also brought 

 in. 



Note. — See Paper by H. G-S. in Transactions of the N.Z. 

 Institute. 



