Potts. — 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, 1*5 

 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 (Gerthiparus), yet much more powerful than that of the little 

 wren creeper [Acantliisitta.) 



No. 19. — Orthonyx. 



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 0. ochrocephalco, 

 the writer informed Dr. Buller that white with red marks was not a satisfactory 

 description ; white, T«^ashed or clouded with yellowish brown, would more 

 accurately describe tbeir colour. We have nests and eggs from Okarita and 

 Ahaura, in Westland. 



No. 20. — Sphenceacus pui^"ctatus, Quoy. 

 We found the nest of this bird last December, at the margin of the 

 Okarita lagoon, Westland. 



No. B. 24. — Gerygone sylvestris. n. s. 



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 difiers from that of 

 Gerygone Jlaviventris . 



The editor of the "Ibis" supplies a note, in which he states that Dr. Buller 

 believes this Gerygone to be G. alhofrontata, Gray. Dr. Buller does not assign 

 his reasons for this belief, neither does he give any account of the song, or 

 habits of G. alhofrontata. 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. 



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