138 



Nothing positive is known respecting its habits of nidification. A native, however, 



once 



described the nest to me as being of large size, and composed of moss, twigs, and dry leaves. H 

 assured me that he had twice met with it in the high scrub near the Manawatu River, and that 

 in both cases the nest contained two eggs, of " smaller size than the Tui's, and white spotted with 

 red at the thicker end." 



In the Ruahine ranges I met with a breeding-pair of these birds late in December. The 

 sudden disappearance of the female and the cautious demeanour of the male satisfied me that I 

 was in the immediate vicinity of the nest ; but I nevertheless failed in my endeavours to find it. 



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