62 



never far above the ground, usually from two to six feet. We have found it 

 suspended to our common fern, Pteris aquilina. It lays three clear-blue eggs, 

 ovoiconical in shape, measuring 8 lines in length, with a breadth of 6J lines : 

 incubation lasts about ten days. The nest and eggs form as pleasing an object 

 as those of the Hedge-sparrow at home. The gift of song does not appear to 

 be equally shared by these birds ; in addition to the quick, sharp note or 

 chirrup, which all seem to have in common, now and then an individual bird 

 is heard pouring forth a low, well-sustained, melodious song ; possibly the power 

 may exist in all adult males, only to be indulged in at pairing time. 



One of the jDensile nest-builders, which seem to be almost equally rare 

 in our temperate clime as they are in the old country. The suspension of its 

 habitation is accomplished in a different manner from that of Gerygone, and 

 more after the fashion adopted by Regulus cristatus, of Europe, the Kinglet or 

 Golden-crested Wren, except that the nest is very often formed without any 

 protection or shelter from an overhanging leaf. The rim of the ladle-shaped 

 structure is firmly secured to a forked twig by silky threads of spiders' nests, 

 finished on the outside, round the bottom, with braces of green leaves of grass, 

 crossed and recrossed, which add much to the strength and stiffness of the 

 fabric. 



Now, as pensile nests are peculiarly adapted for ensuring the safety of their 

 contents against the predatory attacks of various egg-robbers, does not the 

 suspension of the habitation of the Zosterops, — the instinctive precaution of a 

 foreign land (See Chrysococcyx lucidws), — afford an indication that it is a recent 

 colonist, not yet so thoroughly acclimatized as to be fully aware of the 

 immunity it enjoys from ravages of snakes, etc. 1 will that form of nest which 

 is now sometimes found built in, rather than suspended from, a bush or thicket, 

 become a more common object, and thus show a change in the style 

 of architecture, as this bird, season after season, experiences the comparative 

 safety of the breeding-places in our cooler latitude 1 Amongst our indigenous 

 genera are there any pensile nest-builders 1 For years we invariably found 

 three eggs to be the complement to a nest ; now this last season we have met 

 with several instances where four eggs have been laid, where this has occurred, 

 the home has been built in, rather than fairly suspended from, a bush. If the 

 reason, before suggested, for a modification in the manner of fixing the habitation 

 be considered as not altogether too fanciful, may we not likewise be allowed to 

 advance our opinion that the change of climate is also gradually producing its 

 effects in the increased fecundity of our little Blight-bird. 



Note. — -Dec. 4 — Nest in a manuka (Leptospermum scoparium), appeared 

 to be completely lined and finished. On the 8th it contained three eggs ; the 

 next day a fourth egg was laid; on the 19th one callow nestling was 

 exhibiting its ugliness, perfectly naked, except two or three small tufts of white 

 down on the bald cranium, the body deep yellowish-pink, with dark slatey-coloured 

 marks along the line of the vertebrae, the exterior of wing, and legs. The day 

 following, his ugliness had a companion, on the 23rd feathers had made their 

 appearance, where the slatey markings had been noticed ; two unhatched eggs 

 remained in the nest, which was only visited quietly once a day. 



Young birds, for some time after they can fly well, can scarcely be said to 

 possess any just pretension to the title of Zosterops, as they are without the 

 circlet of white feathers round the eyes. 



From the large number of nests we have observed, December must be the 

 height of the breeding season. 



The Zosterops is so partial to the berries of the trailing Gotoneaster 

 mycrophylla, that we have known it to be taken by the hand, when it has been 

 busily engaged on them ; in the early spring we have observed it eating 

 clover. 



