THE WRY-BILL 



217 



The wry-bill breeds in the South Island, and goes to the North 

 Island in the winter. It is supposed, that, in the breeding season, 

 the bird is less wary perhaps than any other species of the 

 family. It displays remarkable instinct in selecting the ground 

 for depositing its eggs. They are laid in a slight depression 

 amongst the pebbles of a river-bed, without any addition of 

 vegetable material and their grey tint harmonises with the 

 general colour of the shingle. The breeding season extends 



Wry-Bill. 



through spring and early summer. The female usually lays three 

 eggs. Many years ago, Mr. Potts, it might be said, lived, amongst 

 them at breeding-time, and, when sleighing drift-wood, he had 

 plenty of opportunities for observing their quaint ways. He says 

 that the parent birds are seldom seen far apart. If disturbed, 

 they trot off at a fast pace, partially opening their wings, which 

 gives a broad flattened appearance across the back. If distressed 

 by too close an approach to the eggs, they utter a low purring 

 sound, carrying the head low, the bill pointing downwards, and 

 just clearing the ground. The young endeavour to escape 



