108 



Warauroa 



easily attracted by an imitation of this note, however rudely attempted, and may be induced to 

 fly into the open hand by quickly revolving a leaf or small fern-frond, so as to represent the 

 fluttering of a captive bird. Layard compares the note to the creaking sound of a wheel-barrow ; 

 and I have sometimes heard it so subdued and regular, as to be scarcely distinguishable from the 

 musical chirping of the pihireinga or native cricket. 



The Grey Warbler builds a large and remarkably ingenious nest, in which it lays from three 

 to six eggs, and, as I am inclined to think, breeds twice in the season. The construction of the 

 nest, which is of great size as compared with the bird, occupies a considerable time. In one 

 instance noted, I observed the birds collecting materials for their work towards the end of August, 

 and the young did not quit the clump of climbing-rose in which the nest was placed till the first 

 week in October. 



Selected on account of its unwearied industry, or because of the peculiar fitness of its warm 

 domed nest for the nurture of a semitropical species, this little bird is the willing victim of our 



the former of which, at any rate, deposits 

 its egg in the nest of this species, while both of them delegate to this tiny creature the task of 

 reariiig their young. 



I have found the intrusive egg of the former in the nest with those of the Grey Warbler, 

 and I have frequently observed the voracious young Cuckoo being attended and fed by the foster- 

 parent, but I have never seen the young of these birds together. Either the parasitic egg being 

 the first hatched, the others are neglected and allowed to perish, or the intruder, finding the 

 accommodation insufficient, by virtue of his superior size and strength casts out the rightful occu- 

 pants and usurps entire possession of the nest. The latter supposition is the more likely one, as 

 this is known to occur with other species of this family in other parts of the world, while, as 

 already recorded in treating of Chrysococcyx lucidus, there is at least one well-authenticated 

 instance of this instinct on the part of our smaller Cuckoo in New Zealand. 



Although, as already mentioned, the Grey Warbler appears to lay twice in the season, it 

 would seem that one nest serves the purpose of rearing two broods ; for, allowing that the family 

 would require the attention of the old birds up to the middle of October (though probably it 

 would be later), there would not be time to build another nest before the arrival of the Cuckoos 

 to spend the summer with us and to deposit their eggs for incubation. The production of double 

 broods in this case would seem to be a provision of nature to enable this species to maintain its 

 ground, seeing that the demands of the parasitical Cuckoos involve in many cases the loss or de- 

 struction of the legitimate offspring. Instead of being scarce, the Grey 



(me of our commonest species — a circumstance owing, no doubt, in some measure, to its being a 

 pensile-nest builder, and thus escaping the ravages of the Norway rat, the great enemy to the 

 increase or perpetuation of our indigenous birds. 



The young on leaving the nest are extremely nimble and somewhat shy. For several days 

 after quitting their domed cradle they remain in its vicinity, following the old birds about in a 

 restless manner and emitting incessantly a scarcely audible piping note. On these occasions I 

 have noticed that the birds hunt all day long in a wide circle, with the nest-home as a centre ; 

 and they probably take their young family back to it at night for shelter and warmth. The nests 

 of most birds, when the young have flown, are polluted and unserviceable, being easily distin- 



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