THE ZooLoGist—JUNE, 1875. 4481 
The first specimen we found placed on the extended limb of a 
totara (Podocarpus) that overhung a deep, ferny gully. The nest 
had been built on the remains of an old structure, and the 
foundation, which was quite two feet across, made of sticks and 
sprays firmly interlaced, supported a basin-shaped nest formed of 
twigs and moss (Sphagnum), smoothly lined with leaves of soft 
grass. From wall to wall outside the measurement was found to 
be sixteen inches ; diameter of the cavity eight inches, with a depth 
of 35 inches. The parent bird on the nest allowing a very close 
approach, was found to be covering two nestlings as yet unable to 
see. They were partially clothed with slate-coloured down, which, 
on the cranium, stood up like a broad crest, or rather crown; the 
neck and under parts were quite bare; beaks flesh-colour, with a 
greenish tinge about the point of the upper mandible; rictal mem- 
branes pale greenish, changing to blue; wattles rosy pink, like an 
infant’s hand; legs and feet slatish anteriorly, dull flesh-colour 
behind; claws dull white. They differed somewhat in size; both 
were very plump, being abundantly fed with the berries of the tutu 
(Cortaria). The old bird suffered a close examination of its home 
and its inmates without uttering any alarm cry or showing any signs 
of defending its young, thus differing much from the habit of 
Keropia; yet there was not that exhibition of utter helplessness 
which some birds—as for instance Hymenolaimus—manifest under 
similar circumstances. The other nests were found in damp 
situations (one with a broken egg) in a small patch of bush at 
Freshwater Basin, close by the Lady Bowen Waterfall. From 
observation we found that the young are left at intervals during 
the day for a considerable time. A friend sent two eggs from a 
nest found near the Paringa river, Westland: they are of a warm 
stone-colour, with purplish and brown spots; ovo-conical; in 
length one inch seven lines; in breadth one inch one line: they 
bear much resemblance to the eggs of some species of terns in 
colour and marks. We are inclined to believe that eggs of this 
bird are often destroyed by the long-tailed cuckoo (Hudynamis 
tahitiensis). The weight of the female crow is ten ounces and a 
quarter, whilst that of the male is found to average from nine and 
a half to ten ounces. The writer found that in the Wairarapa the 
Glaucopis Wilsoni is sometimes familiarly known as ‘the blue- 
gills.” It is said that G. cinerea has been found in the North 
Island. 
