150 



I may mention that in one of the local collections there is an eccentric egg of Zosterops 

 more than a third smaller than the ordinary egg and the colour far more intense. It was found 

 associated with an egg of the normal type. 



In describing Zosterops westernensis in the " Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum," 

 Dr. Sharpe expresses his astonishment that this widely distributed species should have 

 escaped notice ; the only mention of it being Mr. Gould's statement that " some specimens 

 of Z. ccerulescens had the throat waxy yellow." Mr. A. J. North investigated the 

 subject with great care, and made a critical examination of nearly fifty skins, in 

 every stage of plumage, obtained in the neighbourhood of Sydney. The result of 

 his observations is thus summed up by him ('Bee. Aust-Mus.,' vol. ii., p. 99) : 

 " Zosterops westernensis of Quoy and Gaimard, the type of which was obtained by them 

 at Western Port, Victoria, is only the spring and summer attire of Z. ccerulescens of 

 Latham. Taking the two extreme phases of winter plumage exhibited in Z. cceru- 

 lescens, it can be easily understood why each phase should be thought to belong to a distinct 

 species ; and it is only where one has these birds under daily observation, and obtains specimens 

 during every month of the year, that the intermediate stage, or the gradual transition of one 

 phase of plumage to the other, is observed. . ; . . Typical examples of Latham's Z. cceru- 

 lescens, with the deep tawny-buff flanks and grey throat, the autumn and winter attire of this 

 species, may be obtained in the neighbourhood of Sydney from the middle of April to the end 

 of August. . . . During August and September, however, the gradual transition from the 

 winter to the spring attire (the Zosterops westernensis of Quoy arid Gaimard) is slowly taking 

 place, and by the middle of October not a bird is to be seen with the deep tawny-buff flanks 

 and the grey throat. Specimens shot in November had the throats of a brighter olive-yellow 

 than at any other period of the year ; the flanks at that time being of a very pale tawny- 

 brown. At mid-summer, when the breeding season with the species is virtually over, the throat 

 is slightly paler than in the spring, and this livery is retained until the beginning of March. 

 The flanks then become darker, increasing in intensity of colour from that time forward; the 

 yellow feathers on the throat also disappearing and passing into grey until the autumn livery 

 is again fully assumed by the end of April. . . . All through the year some specimens 

 are found with the under tail-coverts tinged or washed with yellow." 



I have taken the New Zealand bird, for specimens, at all seasons of the year and I 

 have never observed these changes of plumage. 



This is Mr. Elsdon Best's account of the taking of this bird as told in his ' Sketches from 

 Tuhoeland ': — 



The small bird known as Pihipihi is taken in great numbers still for food. Two upright poles about five 

 feet high are stuck in the ground, generally in a clearing near the edge of a forest. Across the top, from pole 

 to pole, is fastened a stick called the ' rongohua,' and underneath that a cord or piece of flax is tied across from 

 pole to pole. This string is the ' tau maimoa,' and to it are tied the first few birds caught, generally by the beak. 

 These birds being alive make great efforts to escape, and thus, in their fluttering, attract other birds. The fowler, 

 rod in hand, is seated beneath a slight shelter of boughs or fern-fronds, and strikes down the birds as they flutter 

 about the ' tau maimoa.' Great numbers of the Pihipihi are here yearly preserved in fat. The birds are so small 

 that the only preparation they undergo is being plucked, head, bones, and inside being eaten. The Porete, or 

 Paroquet, is taken in a similar manner. This is termed a ' tanga kakanki.' Another method of taking the 

 Paroquet is termed the ' koputa.' A rough shed is built near the edge of the bush. Branches are stuck in the 

 ground, the tops being bent over to form the roof, the front of the shed being left open. Inside, and near the 

 back of the shed, small poles are placed horizontally, as perches. These are the ' kurupae.' Near them short 

 sticks (turuturu) are stuck in the ground, and to them are fastened the decoy Paroquets, to attract the birds 

 within the shed. The fowler then procures some fronds of the fern known as paraharaha, which he bunches 

 or arranges in a certain manner, and then ties to the end a long stick. When he sees a flock of Paroquets 

 (pokai porete) he waves this pole to and fro. This attracts the birds, which soon settle on trees near the shed. 



