OOLOGY OF NEW ZEALAND. 279 
with acomplete broad ring around the larger end, of confluent 
blotches of rich red, the apex clear without-marks ; pale pink, 
richly marked with red blotches, a few small purplish dots 
chiefly at the larger end; pale pink, with large angular marks 
of dull red, mostly at the larger end ; pale pink, with spots and 
rounded marks of reddish and dark purple; pale pink, with the 
surface almost covered with freckles of dull red ; pale pink, with 
large irregularly shaped blotch covering the apex. 
The eggs are ovoid, ovoido-conical, sometimes broadly ellip- 
tical ; about eleven lines in length; with a breadth of eight lines. 
I have notes of several habitats in the North Island, where 
within the last few months this species was fairly represented. 
13. Anthornis melanocephala, Gray. 7 
Chatham Island Bell-bird—The material of this bird’s nest is 
composed of thin twigs, roots, and coarse grasses bent and 
twisted together into a symmetrical bowl-shaped structure ; in 
some specimens tufts of wool, fronds of coarse sphagnum moss, 
or a few dead leaves are sparingly introduced ; in others may be 
found long pieces of piri-piri (Acena) entwined with the other 
materials ; in the interior there are sometimes a few tufts of wool 
not firmly woven into the fabric, and some feathers complete the 
nest ; or there may be an entire absence of wool and feathers, 
the lining being made of broad grasses; this style of finish at 
once recalls the work of the huia, to which it bears some resem- 
blance. It is a large handsome fabric of an even dusky-brown 
tone, that would harmonise well with dead fern fronds ; it mea- 
sures from wall to wall about seven and a-half inches ; cup nearly 
three inches across, with a depth of two and a-half inches. These 
dimensions are taken from a nest before me, which was received 
from Te Wakaru. The eggs are exceedingly beautiful, richer in 
their colouring than any other species of the Native honey-eating 
family ; they vary a good deal in their markings. They are 
ovoid, rarely all white ; pink, with red blotches, boldly but irregu- 
larly marked about the larger end with several wavy or curling 
hair-like streaks, that descend to the smaller end; dull pinkish, 
with red specks and freckles arranged together chiefly in annular 
form round the smaller end ; reddish buff or salmon, with red 
brown marks at the larger end, which is rather pointed ; reddish 
buff or brownish salmon, with large confluent rounded blotches 
of dark red, covering the smaller end; brownish salmon, or 
reddish buff with large splashes of dark red spreading over the 
larger end; the rest of the surface almost clear from marks, 
except a few hair-like streaks; length one inch and half a 
line; breadth nine and a-half lines. 
It breeds in August, September, and October, probably also 
later in the summer; the nest is usually built in kopi trees 
(Corynocarpus) where there is shelter from the trailing vines of 
supple-jack, also in karamu (Coprosma), or under the head of 
tree-ferns ; generally at a height of some twelve feet from the 
