94 



THE ANIMALS OF NEW ZEALAND 



and other botanical rareties. On reaching nearly the top of the 

 g'ully, I heard the shrill ringing notes of a tloek of yellowheads. 

 As I noticed them crossing the gully some distance above me, 

 I moved on gently, until I was under the branches to which the 

 birds were advancing from the gailly. They numbered about 

 200, and were in rich plumage. They fed eagerly for some 

 minutes among the branches of the trees, and then, simultane- 

 ously uttering their call, they flew forward some yards and 

 began to feed, until they again sounded the signal to advance, 

 repeating it at short intervals, and passing on through the bush 

 in this order. 



Xest of the Saddle-back. 



"Before the yellowheads had quite disappeared, I heard the 

 rich flute-notes of a flock of saddle-backs advancing. I climbed 

 up the side of the gully, and stood on the edge. Two males 

 were the first to appear, and they were followed by the remainder 

 of the flock. They advanced in the line of the yellowheads. 

 When they noticed me, some approached closely, twittering and 

 elevating their tails. They moved about in a sprightly manner 

 on the lower branches, ^^ithin a few feet of my face, scanning 

 me carefully, and wondering, perhaps, at the intruder into their 

 solitary domain. They were exceedingly tame, and moved with 

 great activity, stopping at intervals, and resting their breasts 

 for a few seconds on the boughs, and again proceeding, searching 

 carefully for food among the ferns and mosses. They remained 



