Ports.—New Zealand Birds. 183 
an union nest be so constructed unless the hen happened to be a flabellifera. 
Thus, in course of time, as the flabellifera could live well where fuliginosa 
would not attempt to rear their young, the pied should outnumber their black 
congeners. f 
Nore.—October 29th. The writer has seen what he took for R. flabellifera 
attending and watching three young birds, well able to forage for themselves. 
These, to all appearance, were R. fuliginosa, blackish, or very dark olivaceous 
brown ; head, greyish shade of black ; neck, slaty black ; bristles at the base 
of the mandible grizzly, or silvery black. 
Further observations will be necessary to clear up some very interesting 
points in connection with this fact. 
No. 45.—CRrEADION CARUNCULATUS, Gm. 
Tieke. 
Saddje-back, Pl. XVII. 
The saddle-back, which a few years since was commonly met with in the 
more thickly wooded portions of Banks Peninsula, is now of rare occurrence 
there. The extensive area of growing timber at the Little River Bush will 
probably be its last refuge in that part of the country, so rapidly is the 
Peninsula becoming disforested. Although we have met with, and have 
known of the nest of this striking looking bird in the more open parts of the 
forest, yet it seeks and loves the shady covert of the densest bush, where 
decaying tree and damp mosses conceal an insect food supply. It does not 
appear to be strong on the wing ; we have never seen it attempt a lengthened 
flight, yet its movements are notably prompt, rapid, and decided. It usually 
announces its sudden approach by a shrill note unlike that of any other bird 
we know ; it sounds like “ chee-per-per, chee-per-per,” repeated several times 
in quick succession. No sooner is this call-note heard than the bird emerges 
from its leafy screen and bounds before the spectator as suddenly as harlequin 
in a pantomime. From these abrupt movements, or flying leaps, thus 
shrilly accompanied, it seems to perform a rôle of its own that appears 
almost startling amidst the umbrageous serenity of the forest. Let the eye 
follow its motions, that are so quickly changed, and watch the tieke perched 
for a few moments on the lichen-mottled bole of some fallen tree, a favourite 
position—its glossy black plumage is relieved from sameness by the quaint 
saddle-mark of deep ferruginous that crosses its back and wings, the red 
caruncles add much to the sprightliness of its air ; the observer will probably 
notice that its attitude is peculiar, or, in colonial phrase, “it has a queer set 
on it.” The head and tail are kept rather elevated, the feathers of the tail 
take a gently sweeping curve, the bird looks as though prepared to leap, one 
more glance and it is away, climbing some moss-clothed trunk, or picking its 
