422 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
Anthornis melanura, Sparrman. Bell-bird, Korimako.—Last 
season I saw two instances of the nest of this bird on foreign 
trees, one in a plum (Prunus), the second in a thorn (Crategus). 
Anthornis melanocephala, Gray. Chatham Island Bell-bird. 
—This bird is deserting the neighbourhood of the settlements 
and homesteads, and retiring to the southern part of the island. 
Orthonyx ochrocephala, Gmelin. Canary, Popokatea. — For 
several weeks past (July, 1885) a few of these birds have 
appeared in the garden and shrubberies. 
Rhipidura fuliginosa, Sparrman. Black Flycatcher or Fan- 
tail, Ti-waka-waka.—Remarkably tame and confident. During 
many weeks of autumn one of these birds entered the rooms 
freely, and often alighted on persons, or on a newspaper whilst 
being read, sometimes perching on a low fender in front of the 
fire. It would also perch on persons out of doors in a most 
confident manner. 
Platycercus nove-zealandia, Sparrman ; P. auriceps, Kuhl.— 
Appeared in great numbers last spring and summer, living on 
currants, strawberries, cherries, plums, pears, apples, &c.; in 
the autumn and winter feeding on sowthistle, cocksfoot, acacia 
seeds, cones of Cupressus funebris, Pinus pinea, acorns, &c. 
Charadrius bicinctus, Jardine and Selby. Dotterel. — Last 
season bred on farms not far from homesteads in the Westerfield 
District, Canterbury Plains. 
Thinornis nove-zealandie, Gmelin. Shore Plover. — On 
October 8rd this species was found breeding on a small rocky 
islet, about five acres in extent; it is one of the Chatham Island 
group, called the Sisters, or Rangitutahi. This very exposed 
and unsheltered site apparently is shared only by the huge 
Albatross (D. exulans), and the Giant Petrel (O. gigantea), which 
also breed there, and rest awhile from almost ceaseless wanderings 
over the surrounding ocean. Exposed to gales that sweep over 
a vast unbroken expanse of sea, and break against this little 
speck of rock, the only screen that may shelter the wild home of 
the Shore Plover is the tussock of wiry grass or saw-edged 
Carex, for no tree is there to lend a friendly shelter. The eggs, 
three in number, just fit the slight nest of a few grass-leaves 
twisted into a circular form. They are ovoido-conical, ovoid with 
the smaller end blunt, or somewhat pyriform, smooth, and 
somewhat shining. They vary in colour, being (a) pale or warm 
eo. ee 
