NEW ZEALAND WOOD ROBINS 



81 



of the tarsus, 0.75 in. Egg — White , speckled with brownish grey. 

 Length, 0.78 in. North Island of New Zealand. 



The North Island species may be seen in the ranges, and on 

 some of the islands. These beautiful birds favour the clearings. 

 They hop about on low branches, with wings slightly drooping, 

 and taiLs erect, while they utter a sweet whistle of one note, like 

 *'chee, " the male, however, sometimes giving the tive notes. 

 The female, being of a retiring disposition, is not seen so often 

 as the male. 



Nest of White-breasted Tit. 



They feed on insects and larvae, and do much good in 

 destroying large numbers of the former. They have been known 

 to carry to their nests insects over an inch long. 



Both birds build their nest together, using moss, spiderwebs, 

 and rotten wood, and lining the inside with the down of seeds 

 taken from flowers. In October the female lays three or four 

 eggs, and both birds breed and rear the young twice a year. 



As the young are full grown in the beginning of December, 

 the parents then leave them. The nest is flattened in the fork 

 of a tree, and the site selected is generally in very thick scrub. 



New Zealand Wood Robins. 



Genus Miro. 

 Tail considerably shorter than the wing, square at the end. 

 Second primary about equal to the secondaries; tip of the wing 



