Notes from New Zealand. 251 



which are considered almost extinct on the mainland *^ are, 

 at present, not uncommon in one part of the Northern 

 Island of New Zealand, will, no doubt, be pleasing to those 

 who take an interest in our fast-disappearing avifauna. 



MiRO AusTRALis (Spamn.). 



It is just three years ago that I made the acquaintance of 

 the Wood Robin, and on November 20, 1889, I was suc- 

 cessful in taking a nest containing three fresh eggs, from 

 the fork of a cabbage-tree [Cordyline australis) in thick 

 manuka-scrub. 



The bird is not uncommon in the locality ; still I am 

 afraid the time is not far distant when it will be so, for in 

 the same strip of manuka I found two more nests in each 

 of which the eggs had been destroyed. That rats did this I 

 have not the slightest doubt; in the same locality I have 

 found their " nests " in positions similar to those selected by 

 the Robin, and a " nest,^' composed of a mass of leaves and 

 grass, is often seen in a bunch of lawyer (a thorny creeper, 

 Rubus australis) and in other dense-foliaged bush. 



Seldom is the Greenfinch {Frinyilla chloris) successful in 

 hatching its eggs in a brier bush on this account, and it is 

 rare in the locality in consequence. 



CliTONYX ALBICAPILLA (LeSS.) . 



In the district frequented by Miro australis this is hardly 

 a rare bird. It frequents the heavy manuka, and its sharp 

 chattering notes enliven some of the almost deserted lighter 

 bush. Towards the breeding-season single birds appear to 

 wander from their usual haunts, and its trill or love-song at 

 this period is very pretty. 



From my note-book I take the following references to this 

 species : — September 3, 1889, " Came on a flock of eight or 

 ten White- heads in the thick manuka at the Lagoon, and, 

 while having lunch under some large kowhai trees, a single 

 White-head appeared hunting in the tree-tops, now and then 

 stopping to sing a pleasing little song of half a dozen quickly 

 repeated notes." Again on July 29, 1890, while shooting, 



* See Biiller, ' Birds of N Z.' 2nd ed. vol. i. pp. .35 & 54. 



