Bush-birds of New Zealand. 523 
4. NINOX NOVE-ZEALANDIE. 
Spiloglaux nove-zealandie Buller, B. New Zeal. i. pts. 1v.— 
vi. p. 192, pl. viii. (1888). 
The “ Morepork” was very common on the birch-ridge, 
where there were many hollow trees, and made night hideous 
around our camp. Here, in the network of birch-roots, rats 
and mice were a plague, and as they collected about our 
camp so did the Owls. Falling trees disturbed many a one 
from its retreat—often to be set upon by the Whiteleads. 
These Owls have taken to the shaded recesses formed by 
felled trees in the gullies, and there possibly they will remain 
until the fire destroys their retreat. They did not appear so 
common in the other classes of bush; still many were ob- 
served, when disturbed by the felling in different parts. The 
**Morepork ” is fairly common in the open country. 
5. CYANORHAMPHUS AURICEPS. 
Cyanorhamphus auriceps Grant, Ibis, 1905, p. 580. 
No. 146. g ad. Maungahaumia, 3000 ft., July 21st, 1906. 
Total length 10°25 inches. Jris clear reddish gold; point 
of upper mandible jet-black, clearly cut off from the basal 
half, which is pale cobalt-blue ; lower mandible black; cere 
and nostrils black ; legs and feet dark slaty black ; soles of 
the feet dirty slaty yellow; claws black. 
Yellow-fronted Parroquets were seen everywhere, out were 
particularly plentiful on the birch-ridges. Here they were 
busy feeding their nestlings in April, and many nests were 
found in hollow living Birch, Kinau, and Kawaka trees. In 
a few cases these were investigated and it was found that from 
two to five young occupied the cavity. In some nests these 
young varied so much in size that it was quite evident that 
they had been hatched at different times. In one case in 
particular, of five young two were quite fledged and could 
fly a little, two were only partially quilled, and the remaining 
one was much smaller and less developed. 
April appears very late for these birds to be nesting, but 
some good supply of food must have existed in this bush 
during the late summer, or (possibly) the coming heavy crop 
