150 |... Transactions.— Zoology. 
of the platform the egg, or young, lies undisturbed by the swaying caused by 
the passing wind. 
Last January, in Milford Sound, the writer obtained several nests, in one 
of which was a young one a few days old. 
January 9.—Nest near the Cledau River, in a sapling miro (Podocarpus), 
about 18 feet above the ground ; it contained one young bird sparsely covered 
with brownish yellow down, which was longest over the neck and breast; 
abdomen bare; bill dull flesh, inclining to slaty; round the eye bare; 
yellowish spot on upper mandible; legs, feet, and claws leaden to flesh 
colour. On the nest, with the young bird, there yet remained some fragments 
of egg-shell and pieces of dung. The spaces and openings of the latticed nest 
befit the dirty habits of the Pigeon ; as the excrement dries, probably most of 
it disappears through the nest. 
The writer has a beautiful specimen of the nest from Little River Bush, 
Banks Peninsula ; it was built on a totara (Podocarpus totara), on a branch 
covered with Loranthus micranthus, and contained one fresh egg (April 14th). 
The egg, of pure and glossy whiteness, is of a perfect oval form, measuring in 
length 1 inch 10 lines, with a breadth of 1 inch 4 lines. 
A Pigeon weighs llb. 1002. ; sometimes this is rather exceeded. 
In July and August this bird feeds on the Polypodium australe. 
No. A. 65.—CHARADRIUS OBSCURUS, (m. 
Plover. 
In October last Donald Potts found a nest which contained four eggs ; 
three of these were those of the Plover, the fourth being that of the common 
tern, S. antarctica. 
No. B. 65. —ANARHYNCHUS FRONTALIS, Quoy. 
Crook-bill. 
In the “Ibis,” January, 1873, also in Dr. Buller’s book, page 219, 
appear statements that: the pectoral band is less conspicuous on the left than 
on the right side of the Crook-bill. The fact is, that the shape of the pectoral 
band is not very regular, and that the black feathers may be found to be most 
conspicuous either on the left or right side in different individuals, as any 
one can ascertain who looks through a series of specimens when he may not 
have the opportunity of noticing living birds. 
No. C. 65.—THINORNIS NOV#-ZEALANDIZ, Gray. 
Masked Plover. 
Tuturautu. ) 
In the summer months this gay-looking Plover affects sandy beaches of 
the sea-shore. Near to the outfall of a river seems a favourite place of resort; 
there débris carried down the stream, and cast on the bank by the opposing 
