Burrer.—On the Ornithology of New Zealand. 183 
PLATYCERCUS NOVH-ZEALANDIE. 
Like other members of the family of parrots, this species nests in 
hollow trees. I stated in my book (p. 60) that it deposits its eggs ‘on 
the pulyerised wood at the bottom, there being no further attempt at 
forming a nest.” Although this holds good as arule, I ought to mention 
that in the Canterbury Museum there is a loose nest, formed of moss, and 
lined with fern-hair, and green paroquet feathers, which was taken from 
the hollow of a tree, and assigned (I believe correctly) to this species. 
ZosteROPs LATERALIS. 
Mr. Enys informs me that, at Akitio (in the North Island), where wild 
pigs are very plentiful, the blight birds habitually line their nests with pigs’ 
bristles, as a substitute for horse hair, which is generally used by them in 
other parts of the country. Ina multitude of cases I have found the cavity 
of the nest lined entirely with long horse hair, intermixed with dry bent, 
all carefully twined together ; an example in the Canterbury Museum has 
the cavity lined entirely with long horse hair, and two other specimens 
in the same collection have a lining composed exclusively of fine grass 
stems carefully bent. The nests of Zosterops vary somewhat in size; but 
they all maintain the character of having very thin walls, with an 
unusually large cavity for the reception of the eggs. These are generally 
three in number (occasionally four), and of a lovely pale greenish-blue. 
In my account of this species (‘‘ Birds of New Zealand,” pp. 80-86), I 
mentioned the circumstance of a flock of these birds being generally 
attended by two or more sentinels or call-birds, who take their station on 
the topmost twigs, as a post of observation, and whose sharp signal note 
instantly brings the whole fraternity together. On a recent occasion, while 
out pheasant shooting, the sound of my companion’s whistle, although 
more than 200 yards away, attracted the notice of a flock of Zosterops con- 
sorting together in the top of a lofty Kahikatea tree. The call-birds gave 
the alarm, and the whole flock, amidst much clamour, ascended high in the 
air and disappeared behind a neighbouring hill. The sentinels appear to 
be always on the alert; and I have seen the same effect produced on a 
flock of these birds by the cry of a hawk, or any other suspicious sound, 
although there was no appearance of immediate danger. 
ANTHORNIS MELANOCEPHALA. 
The nest of this species (from the Chatham Islands) is very much 
larger than that of the Anthornis melanura. A specimen in the Canterbury 
Museum measures in its largest diameter about eight inches by seven inches. 
It is composed chiefly of dry narrow flags or grasses bent in a circular 
form, the outer wall being strengthened with an admixture of fibrous 
twigs. The cavity, which is rather loosely formed, as compared with that 
