Potts. — New Zealand Birds. 183 



an "union nest be so constructed unless the hen happened to be 2, jiahellifera. 

 Thus, in course of time, as the Jlahellifera could live well where fuliginosa 

 v/ould not attempt to rear their young, the pied should outnumber their black 

 congeners. 



Note. — October 29th. The writer has seen what he took for R. Jlahellifera 

 attending and watching three young birds, well able to forage for themselves. 

 These, to all appearance, were R. Juliginosa, 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. — Ceeadion caeunculatus, Gml. 



Tieke. 



Saddle-back. PL XYII. 



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 role 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 j 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 



