98 



THE ANIMALS OF NEW ZEALAND 



uses in order to attract the attention of some other person at a 

 distance ; although Mr. Travers knew he was alone on the island, 

 he frequently stopped mechanically on hearing the note of the 

 bird, under the momentary impression that someone was 

 whistling to him. This bird is solitary in its habits, and seems 

 to live exclusively on insects. 



Nest of Fern-bird. 



Family Paridae. 



Bill rather short, not notched at the tip. Nostrils partly 

 concealed by tufts of feathers. Wing with ten primaries, the 

 first much shorter than the second. Tarsi scutellate. 



Key to the Genera. 



1. Tail shorter than the wings, the shafts of the feathers 



Xsrojecting. 2 



Tail longer than the wings, the shafts of the feathers 



not projecting. Finschia. 



2. Hind claw longer than bill. Mohua. 

 Hind claw shorter than the bill. Certhiparus. 



These genera belong to the Parida^ australes, which are confined 

 to the Australian Region. The nostrils are longitudinal, and 

 are not completely covered by feathers. 



