176 Transactions. — Zoology, 



perched, and repeat the attack again and again. We have known it attack 

 and drive back a dog ; in the autumn, when the old birds are accompanied by 

 their young, boldness seems mingled with mischief or humour. We have 

 seen a group of fine pigeons sunning themselves whilst preening their feathers 

 on the roof of our village parsonage, in an instant scattered to the winds, as 

 one might say, by the sudden dash of a mischievous kingfisher, with no other 

 apparent object than to excite their alarm. We have noticed sheep and cattle 

 grazing close to a nest without causing any anxiety to the birds, yet a cat, 

 dog, or human being, would be immediately attacked. We have seen our 

 handsome butterfly {Pyrameis) sunning itself unmolested just above a nesting 

 hole at which a pair of kingfishers were at work, yet after the young had 

 flown we found the bottom of the chamber covered with remains of thousands 

 of insects, including the gauzy wings of our largest dragon-fly. 



At Ohinitahi, in the breeding season of 1871, we knew of three nests 

 containing in each seven eggs, one nest with six, and another with five eggs. 



ISTo. 12. — Anthornis melanocephala. Gray. 



The nest and eggs of this species, collected in the Chatham Islands, has 

 been recently added to our collection in the Canterbury Museum. 



The structure of this nest does not show much likeness to that of A. mela- 

 nura, the foundation being laid with a well interwoven mass of bent twigs 

 and roots, on which is built a round nest composed chiefly of leaves of coarse 

 grass, which are twisted into a symmetrical shape ; the interior of the cavity 

 has a few tufts of wool, which are not woven into the fabric ; a few feathers, 

 sparingly introduced, completes the nest, which has the following dimensions : — 

 From outside to outside of wall, 7*5 in. ; diameter of cavity, 2*5 in. ; depth of 

 cavity, 2 in. 



No. 16. — Xenicus longipes. Gml. 

 ITuru-pounamu. 

 Green or Striped-faced Wren. 

 The green wren, with its confident habits, is a lively object in the sombre 

 woods of the back country ; it may be found in the Fagus forests which clothe 

 the bases of the mountains that confine the Wilberforce, Havelock, and other 

 snow-fed streams, frequenting the outskirts of the bush. 



We have found that a very poor imitation of its note brings it close enough 

 for observation, for within a yard's distance it will often pursue its restless 

 insect search, apparently indifierent to the presence of an observer. Its time 

 is chiefiy occupied with minute investigation of the lichens and mosses that 

 decorate and partially clothe the undergrowth of the forest, especially we have 

 seen it busily engaged where the level velvety surface of the ground has been 

 disturbed and upturned by the strong claws of the wood-hen {Ocydromus), 



