í 
Ports.—New Zealand Birds. 177 
On a visit to the Rangitata glaciers, late in the month of December, the 
writer was lucky enough to find the nest, perhaps one of the most difficult to 
discover amongst those of our native arboreals ; this is owing to the perfect 
manner in which the structure is hidden amidst surrounding moss, 
The nest was discovered just within a mixed bush of totara, ribbon-wood 
(Plagianthus), and birch, far up the Havelock. Beneath the moss-covered roots 
of one of the ribbon-wood trees was fixed the nest, which was pouch-shaped, 
with the opening near the top; the sides of the entrance being strengthened 
with fern-root, carefully interlaced ; indeed, it was almost wholly composed 
of fern-root, beautifully interwoven; and the interior was furnished rather 
profusely with feathers. It was so well concealed, that it was with difficulty 
believed to be a nest at all, the entrance being scarcely discernible. It 
measured about 3:5 inches in depth, by 3 inches in breadth ; entrance, 15 
inches ; depth of cavity, 2:5 inches. 
The call of the green wren is a sharp cheep; not so shrill as that of the 
brown creeper (Certhiparus), yet much more powerful than that of the little 
wren creeper (Acanthisitta.) 
No. 19.—Orrtuonyx. 
The writer, after careful comparison of a series of nests and eggs of 
Orthonyx, is inclined to believe that the two species are less closely allied than 
is usually supposed. With respect to the colour of the eggs of O. ochrocephala, 
the writer informed Dr. Buller that white with red marks was not a satisfactory 
description ; white, washed or clouded with yellowish brown, would more 
accurately describe their colour. We have nests and eggs from Okarita and 
Ahaura, in Westland. 
No. 20.—SPHENG@ACUS PUNCTATUS, Quoy. 
We found the nest of this bird last December, at the margin of the 
Okarita lagoon, Westland. i 
i No. B. 24.—GERYGONE ŞYLVESTRIS. n. $. 
The writer sent the following description to the “Ibis,” of a Gerygone 
which affects dense bush near lake Mapourika, Westland. His attention 
was attracted to the bird by its peculiar song, which differs from that of 
Gerygone flaviventris. 
The editor of the “Ibis” supplies a note, in which he states that Dr. Buller 
believes this Gerygone to be G. albofrontata, Gray. Dr. Buller does not assign 
his reasons for this belief, neither does he give any account of the song, or 
habits of @. albofrontata. I, therefore, confidently bring this species forward 
for the consideration of New Zealand observers, and apply the specific name 
of sylvestris as indicative of its habits. 
x 
