THE CHATHAM ISLAND FERN-BIRD 97 



regardless of the presence of man, will mount to the top of a flax 

 stick, climbing up with little runs, like a mouse or house-fly, his 

 tail being bent in towards the stem. 



This species has been called the grass-bird, and also the utick, 

 on account of its peculiar cry. As early as 1870, Mr. Potts 

 recorded the fact that the bird was becoming rare in Canterbury, 

 and was rapidh^ disappearing as the swamps were drained. Its 

 monotonous note, which at one time was heard in almost any 

 place where the tall toi-toi reeds or the waving leaves of the 

 Carex virgata grow, indicates marshy ground. Being feeble 

 fliers, these birds perished in large numbers in the bush fires 

 when lands were cleared by the settlers. The nest is somewhat 

 oval in shape, and measures about three inches across. ' One 

 specimen preserved is so frail that it maj^ be seen through. The 

 bird usuall}' builds in a tussock, a few inches above the level of 

 the ground. 



/ • The Tawny Fern-bird. 



tS'phbnacacus fulvus. 

 Paler than the last, the brown centres to the feathers being narrower. 

 Length of the wing, 2. .5 in.; of the tarsus, 0.9 in. South Island and the 

 Snares. 



The Chatham Island Fern-bird. 



SphefiaeacHs rufescens. 

 Upper surface, as well as the wings and tail, rufous brown; lower 

 surface brownish white, the throat tinged with yellow. A brownish 

 white streak over the eye; the sides of the head marked with black. 

 Length of the wing, 2.5 in.; of the tarsus, 1.0 in. — Egg — -Creamy white, 

 speckled and marbled with reddish brown; length, 0.8 in. Mangare, 

 one of the Chatham group. 



Mangare, in the Chatham group, is a very small islet, and has 

 a stony surface, which, however, is nearly covered with low 

 rigid scrub. When ]Mr. H. H. Travers visited the island, in 

 1872. he found that the fern-bird was not uncommon. Its 

 habit of hopping rapidly from one point of cover to 

 another increased the difficulty of securing the bird. It has a 

 peculiar whistle, Mr. Travers says, very like that which a person 



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