154 Mr. E. P. Ramsay on the Nests and 



those of the Drymceca [rodericana] were white, without spots. 

 I was shown an old nest, said to be that of the former ; and I 

 have no doubt it was so, as it was in every way the same as 

 that of the common species here. 

 Mauritius, November 1864. 



XV. — On the Nests and Eggs of some New Zealand Birds. 

 By Edward P. Ramsay. 



I HAVE just received a batch of birds^ nests and eggs from my 

 friend R. Huntley, Esq., of St. Mary's, Wellington, New 

 Zealand ; and not having seen them described in any ornitho- 

 logical publication, I have come to the conclusion that a few 

 notes on the subject may prove acceptable to the readers of 

 the ' Ibis.' 



As my stay in Wellington was very short, I cannot describe 

 many species from my own experience, and I must therefore 

 have recourse to Mr. Huntley's information, and take his 

 authority for the identification of the birds. I may mention, 

 however, that the native names, which he sends along with the 

 scientific ones, perfectly agree with those given in Mr. G. R. 

 Gray's " List of the Birds of New Zealand," contained in a 

 former volume of the ^bis' (1862, pp. 214-253). 



Anthornis melanura (G. R. Gray, loc. cit. p. 218). 



" Honey-Eater," " Mocking-bird," " Mocker," &c., of the 

 Colonists. Kohori-mako of the Natives. 



This species of Honey-eater constructs a neat cup-shaped 

 nest of dry twigs and roots, generally lined with fine rootlets 

 and grass; but examples from the neighbourhood of Welling- 

 ton are invariably lined with white hair and feathers. It is 

 usually placed among some thick mass of vines and bushes, or 

 boughs clustered with the Creeping-fern {Lomaria filiformis), 

 the dry fertile fronds of which are often used in the frame- 

 work. The nests are from 2^ to 3 inches in diameter, and 1^ 

 inch deep. The eggs are three in number, 10^ to 11 lines in 

 length, by 8 to 8| lines in breadth. They are white or pinkish 

 white, with irregular spots of pinkish salmon-colour crowded 



