74 



No. 15. POGONORNIS CINCTA, Dubus. 



(See also Yol. ii., p. 57.) 



The nest figured on Plate XII. was obtained from tlie bush near Kaiwara- 

 wara, in the neighbourhood of the city of Wellington, and is described in my 

 previous Notes cited above. 



No. B. 19. — Orthonyx (Mohoua) albicillus, Gml. 

 Hihipopokera. 



CertMpaTus alhicilla, the nest figured on Plate XI. was drawn from a 

 specimen obtained near Wellington, where the bird may be seen in 

 considerable numbers ; its habits so closely resemble those of Mohoua 

 ochrocephala, that one sees with regret that ornithologists have lately seen fit 

 to class it with another group. Description of the nest is given in Vol. ii., 

 p. 59. 



[It will be observed [ante, page 40) that both Buller and Finsch have agreed 

 that this bird shall be placed along with Mohoua ochrocephala, under the 

 gen VIS Orthonyx. — Ed.] 



No. 24. — Gertgone flaviventris, Gray. 

 Piripiri. 

 Warbler. 



In the Notes on the breeding habits of New Zealand birds (Trans. N. Z. 

 Inst., Vol. ii., p. 59) the reason was given why G. assimilis was adopted as 

 the specific name for the Warbler, instead of G. flaviventris. Considerable 

 importance appears to be attached to the mode of nidification as a reason for 

 making two species, as may be gathered from a foot note in Mr. Puller's 

 Essay, p. 9, describing the nests and eggs of the Warbler ; the eggs of 

 G. assimilis are there said to be "marked at the larger end with reddish spots 

 on a white ground, while the eggs of the other species usually number four, 

 are about one-third less in size, and of pure white." In Trans. i\^. Z. Inst., 

 Vol. ii., p. 387, Mr. Bxiller writes, — " I am not aware that I ever met with 

 G. assimilis in the South Island." To these notes it may be replied, that we 

 have lately deposited in the Canterbury Musuem an interesting series of the 

 eggs of this cheerful little warbler, all collected in the South Island, and taken 

 from nests which, from their construction, would answer either of the 

 descriptions given in Mr. Puller's essay ; an inspection of these eggs will show 

 their variation in colour from pure white specimens to others richly sprinkled 

 with reddish marks ; the white are hy Jar the rarest eggs. 



In the winter months, the Warblers may be observed busily exploring the 

 outer sprays of manuka, or fiitting over the fern-clad spurs, in diligent search 

 for larvee, or the eggs of insects securely packed away in their fine-spun silky 



