THE BROWN CREEPER 



103 



Genus Finschia. 

 First primary about one half the length of the second, the tip 

 of the wing formed by the fourth to the sixth' quills. Tail 

 graduated, the shafts of the feathers not projecting. Legs and 

 feet slender; from three to eight seutellffi on the tarsus. New 

 Zealand only. 



Nest of Brown Creeper. 



The Brown Creeper. — Pipirihika. 



Finschia novae-zealandiae. 

 Head, back, and tail reddisli brown; sides of the head and nape 

 dark grey; under surface fawn. Lateral feathers of the tail with a 

 broad brown spot. Eye grey. Length of the wing, 2.5 in.; of the tarsus, 

 0.8 in. Egg — White, with grey and brown spots, which form a ring 

 round the larger end; length, 0.7 in. South Island only. The sexes are 

 alike; and the young are darker below. Some of the birds from the 

 West Coast Sounds have a white eye-brow. 



The brown creeper is seen in the bush lands. A nest obtained 

 by Mr. Potts far above the Rangitata Gorge contained three 

 young birds. It was compactly built of moss, with a few 



