70 



No. 78. — Himantopus Nov^e Zelandi.e, Gould. 

 Poaka. 

 Pied Stilt. 



Usually" commences breeding in October, according to our experience. 

 Unlike the black variety, we have always found this bird prefers swampy 

 ground, siTch as fringes the shores of shallow lagoons, as a nesting-place, etc. 

 Here it may be observed busily wading in the shallow water. In its habits 

 of nidification, it is as inartificial as its congener. Eggs, four in number, 

 yellowish-brown in colour, about the same size as those of the Black Stilt, are 

 profusely marked with very dark brown ; we have thought the eggs rather 

 warmer in colour than those of the black variety. The monotonous call of 

 pink, pink, has, in some places, fixed on it the trivial name of Pink. 



No. B. 78. — Himantopus melas, Homb. et Jacq., "Ann. des Sci. Nat., 1841." 

 Black Stilt. 



Breeds early in the season, seeking the sandy river-beds for that purpose. 

 The labour of nidification is very trilling, sometimes a nest of grass, etc., is 

 roughly constructed, now and then this apology for a nest may be discovered 

 on a log of drift-wood ; much more frequently, however, a slight depression in 

 the sandy spit, answers all the requirements of this Stilt, as a nesting-place ; it 

 is never very far from water. 



It lays from three to four eggs, rather oval in shape, yellowish -brown in 

 colour, very much spotted and blotched over with very dark-brown, approaching 

 to black, measuring 1 inch 10 lines in length, by 1 inch 3 lines in breadth. The 

 young can run almost as soon as they are hatched ; when disturbed, they 

 conceal themselves behind stones, or some other shelter, in the most artful 

 manner ; they are covered with dark-brown clown, bills and legs are then very 

 dark, almost black. The parent birds exhibit the utmost assiduity in 

 attempting to lead intruders from their eggs or young, and their numerous 

 cunning devices are carried on with surprising cleverness and perseverance. 



We have been told that there is not a Black Stilt, that the Black Stilt, 

 so called, is, in reality, but the pied species in an immature state of plumage. 

 To this we cannot for a moment subscribe, we have never once found the two 

 species breeding together or using the same, or even similar situations, for their 

 nesting-place. 



Neither Mr. Buller nor Dr. Finsch, we remark, admit this bird in their lists, 

 but, with the utmost deference to those authorities, we cannot consent to give 

 up such an old acquaintance as the Black Stilt. Our opinion on this subject, is 

 shared in by many others, living "up country," who have had good opportunities, 

 for several years, of observing the breeding habits, and the young birds of both 

 species of Stilts. 



Notes. — Sept. 13 — Nest with three eggs, on a spit on Rakaia river-bed. 

 Dec. 14 — Nest with two eggs, on a drift-log in the Rakaia 

 river-bed. 



No. 87. OCYDROMUS AUSTRALIS, SpaiTlU. 



Weka. 

 Wood-ben. 



This bird is so mischievous to the fruit garden and poultry-yard of the 

 rrp-country settler, that unrelenting war is usually waged against it. Small 

 fruit, low -growing apples, eggs, and young chickens, form some of the items of 

 its favourite plunder ; nor is its thieving propensities confined to articles of 

 food, spoons, pipes, pannikins, and a long list of miscellaneous articles, we have 

 known this curious collector to carry off. On one occasion, in Alford Forest, 



