220 Essays. 
group of parrots (Trichoglossus) subsist entirely upon the nectar they 
extract from the flowers of the Ewcalypti, and for this purpose nature has 
endowed them with a brush-tongue, in which respect they assimilate to the 
true Meliphagide. 
Australia proper is the great seat or metropolis of this family. A few 
species are scattered over the Pacific Isles, and New Zealand possesses five, 
viz. Prosthemadera nove-zealandie, Anthornis melanura, A. melanocephala, A. 
auriocula,* and Pogonornis cincta. 
Of these, the two former (the tui and the korimako) are the commonest 
birds of the country, being more numerous and diffusive in their range than 
any of the other perchers. 
Fam. CERTHIAD x.—Three groups of this family are represented in New 
Zealand by the following species, viz. :—Xenicus longipes, X. stokesii, Acan- 
thisitta chloris, Mohoua ochrocephala, and M. albicilla. A bird mentioned by 
the Rev. R. Taylor as having been seen by him in the Taranaki country, and 
described as * a diminutive wren with a mazarine blue crest,” will pronaniy 
be found to belong to the first-named group. 
Fam. Luscirwrp.—This comprehensive family embraces the following 
New Zealand species, viz. :—Sphenaacus punctatus, S. fulvus, Gerygone igata, 
G. flaviventris, G. albofrontata, G. assimilis,+ Certhiparus nove-zealandie, C. 
hornis auriocula, Buller.— This species, which is a native of the Chatham Isles, 
resembles closely the common korimako (4. melanura), but is appreciably larger, and the 
tints of the plumage are lighter. The chief distinguishing feature is that in this bird the 
e irides are bright yellow, while they are crimson in Anthornis melanur 
Mr. Gray, after describing the common species, (* Voy. Er. and Ter.’ » 4), observes, “Two 
others were also in the collection marked from the Auckland Islands. These differ in being 
natives ‘ ‘ makomako." It appears to hold an intermediate station between A. melano- 
cephala and A. melanura, the former of which is also a Chatham Island species. 
T Gerygone assimilis, Buller.—In form and colour this bird is hardly distinguishable 
from G. flaviventris, although somewhat larger. It measures in len ngth 4j inches; 
extent, de wing from flexure, 2}; tail, 2; rictus, 1; tarsus, 2. 
comparison of the nests of these badi will remove any doubt as to their being 
cifically distinct. That of the smaller species is a compact little nest measuring about 
6 inches by 34. It is * bottle-shaped"— — full and rounded at the base and tapering upwards 
to a point, by which it is suspended. It is composed of a variety of soft materials— 
aene nests, dry moss, grass, vegetable fibres, &c. The spiders’ nests consist of a soft, 
y substance, by the aid of which the materials composing the nest are woven into a 
pad wall with a smooth and finished exterior. The entrance, which is situated on the 
side of the nest, is so smallas to barely admit the finger, and it is protected from the 
weather by a very ingenious Sebens It is surrounded by a Latio rim or ledge, 
composed of extremely we bod interlaced or loosely w woven together, and firmly secured to 
the groundwork of the nes tibul 
while at the base it aii out boldly from the wall and is ds an inch in depth, quim 
furnishing a firm and secure threshold for the bird in its passage to and from the ce 
T» interior opeten or cavity is about two inches deep, and is thickly lined with soft 
