Bush-lirds of New Zealand. 533 
Incidentally, I may mention that my first introduction to 
the Whitehead was on March 15th, 1889, when I found a 
small party mobbing a Bronze Cuckoo (Chalcococcyx lucidus) 
on the Wharekopae River of this district. On this occasion, 
as on others about that time, Rhipidura flabellifera and 
Zosterops cerulescens were seen with the flocks which, in 
that lower altitude, were busy feeding on the seeds of the 
Matipo and Karo (species of Pittosporum) *. 
An uncompleted nest was seen in a small honey-suckle- 
tree in T'awhera-scrub on September 28th. 
I have noted the Whitehead in several parts of this district 
during the past fifteen years, but nowhere in such numbers 
as in this Maungahaumia country. 
13. ANTHORNIS MELANURA (Sparrm.). 
Anthornis melanura Grant, Ibis, 1905, p. 590. 
The Bell-bird, fairly distributed during the winter in the 
Tawa bush, was more plentiful in the scrubby Tawhera 
country. Half-a-dozen birds, often in couples, were usually 
noticed in the day and others heard from the tops. Though 
they were rarely met with on the highest birch-ridges, one 
individual, for some weeks after our arrival, called the camp 
every morning with its melodious chime. In the winter single 
birds were continually heard uttering this chime from the tops 
of the higher trees, and as spring came on a great variety of 
pealing notes were added to the strain, some startling when 
uttered near, and varied in volume as the bird directed 
them in different directions. The Bell-bird has a habit of 
sitting, for a considerable time, in one spot, uttering, at 
regular intervals, a monotonous “ poing,’ which becomes 
quite distasteful. Altogether, the notes, so pleasing on 
first acquaintance, cannot compare with the richer and more 
varied tones of the Tui (Prosthemadera nove-zealandie). 
Many of them resemble those of the latter bird, and so few 
persous distinguish the two that | found it hard to convince 
the bushmen of the Bell-bird’s presence in this district. It 
was in full song towards the end of September, and became 
* See ‘Ibis,’ 1892, p. 251. 
SER, IX.—VOL. I. 2N 
