84 THE ANIMALS OF NEW ZEALAND 



wet, and beads hung from almost every leaf. Just as I was rising 

 to start away again, a shower of water fell upon me. Glancing 

 up, I saw one of the fronds of the tree-fern moving gently in the 

 air. A little slaty-grey bird was sitting near the end of the 

 frond swinging to and fro upon it and watching me with a 

 pair of jet black eyes, which sparkled like diamonds. His head 

 w^as cocked on one side, but he looked me straight in the face, 

 with an inquisitive and rather quizzical but tolerantly good- 

 natured expression, as if he knew that I was a stranger and 

 wondered what I was doing on his property, but wished to set 

 me at my ease. He displayed absolutely no fear. He showed, 

 indeed, that he desired to make my acquaintance. Hopping 

 nimbly off the frond, he sent a shower of water down again. 

 He hopped on to a twig within a few feet of me. A few more 

 hops, first to one side and then to the other, brought him closer, 

 and from that standpoint he looked at me for several seconds. 

 Having satisfied his curiosity, he hopped away from bough to 

 bough, until he hopped himself on to the trunk of a tree, where 

 he hopped up and down, pecking at the bark and moss in search 

 of insect food. He made five or six little hops, then stopped to 

 peck at the tree, and listened intently for some sound. He 

 accompanied me for several yards as I went down the creek, 

 hopping cheerfully along and peeping out at me from the foliage. 

 The rapidity with which this, the gentlest of birds and the 

 kindest and brightest of companions, has decreased from many 

 districts in the north shows that none needs sanctuary more than 

 he does. He is not at all rare on the sanctuary. He may also be 

 seen in large numbers on Kapiti Island, close to the west coast 

 of Wellington, and in districts where the forest trees are 

 still standing.* 



The Black Wood Robin. 



Miru (rarcrsi. 



Jet black, the wings browuisb. Legs and feet browu, the soles yellow. 

 Length of the wing, 3.3 in.; of the tarsus, 1.1 in. Mangare, one of the 

 Chatham Group. 



* By J. Druiiauouci iu the Syduey " Murning Herald" June 1st, 1907. 



