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fined to the South Island, where it is quite as common as the preceding species is in the North. 

 A narrow neck of sea completely divides their natural hahitat, — a very curious and suggestive 

 fact, inasmuch as this rule applies equally to several other representative species treated of in the 

 present work. 



The habits of this bird are precisely similar to those of its northern ally ; but it is superior 

 to the latter in size and in the richer colour of its plumage, while its notes are louder and its song 

 more varied and musical. A flock of these Canary-like birds alarmed or excited, flitting about 

 among the branches with much chirping clamour, and exhibiting the bright tints of their plumage, 

 has a very pretty effect in the woods. 



A life-size drawing of this species, by Mitchell, appeared long ago in the ' Genera of Birds ; ' 

 but the attitude is unnatural, the bird being placed on the ground instead of a tree. 



The nest is thus described by Mr. Potts: — "Measuring across the top 3 inches 3 lines, with 

 a depth of 1 inch 4 lines, it is a beautifully compact structure, cup-shaped, composed principally 

 of moss very closely felted, and neatly interwoven with spiders' webs. In the hollow trunk of 

 the broad-leaf it is sometimes found, and occasionally in a decaying black birch." Mr. Potts, 

 junior, found a nest of this species containing two young birds; it was built of moss, grass, and 

 sheep's wool, with a few feathers intermixed, and was placed in a cluster of young shoots on the 

 side of a black birch, and in the vicinity of a shepherd's homestead. 



On comparing the nest of this species with that of Orthonyx albicilla, it appears to exhibit 

 more care and finish in its general construction, although composed of the same materials. The 

 eggs are of a regular oval form, measuring - 95 inch in length by - 7 in breadth, and are white, 

 with obscure spots of reddish brown over the entire surface. 



