Porrs.—Zirds of New Zealand. 147 
nest on the outstretched limb of a broad-leaf tree (Griselinia littoralis), a few 
feet above a creek. This was on the Havelock River. 
In January last, whilst exploring the bush that fringes Milford Sound, 
the writer was so fortunate as to discover five nests, at heights varying from 
ten to seventeen feet above the ground. The first specimen we found placed 
on the extended limb of a totara (Podocarpus) that overhung a deep, ferny 
gully. The nest had been reared on the remains of an old structure, and the 
foundation, which was quite two feet across, made of sticks and sprays firmly 
interlaced, supported а  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 16 inches ; diameter of the cavity 
8 inches, with a depth of 3:5 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 
membranes 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 (Coriaria). 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, West- 
land. They are of a warm stone colour, with purplish and brown spots ; 
ovo-conieal; in length 1 inch 7 lines; in breadth 1 inch 1 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 10} ounces, whilst that of the male is 
found to average from 91 to 10 ounces. 
The writer found that in the Wairarapa the Glaucopis wilsoni is some- 
times familiarly known as “ the blue-gills.” 
- It is said that б. cinerea has been found in the North Island. 
