OOLOGY OF NEW ZEALAND. 281 
the ribbon-wood—here was another kind of very,tough material 
to work with. Unless seen, it would be difficult to realise the 
appearance of this beautiful example of bird architecture—a 
rare instance of what this bird can do in the art of building. A 
perfect cup of fine green moss, mottled here and there, and re- 
lieved with varying shadesofbrown or chestnut; or dark green webs 
strengthening the edges; within, the clear blue-green eggs, daintily 
reposing on the delicate cream-coloured lacebark that formed 
the lining. Three eggs were at one time its constant comple- 
ment, but a change of habit after some years was developed, and 
very often four eggs were met with ; I have, but rarely, observed 
five in anest. These are usually ovoid, or ovoido-conical, often 
blunt at the point, sometimes narrowed, differing in size from 
the small specimen of only seven and a-half lines, to a large 
egg measuring nearly ten lines in length. The average may be 
given at about eight lines in length, with a breadth of six and 
a-half lines. Pale clear blue-green. Incubation lasts about ten 
days. There is reason to believe it may occasionally, yet rarely, 
become the dupe of the Whistler, or Bronze-winged Cuckoo, C. 
lucidus. 
Family Certhiade—Creepers. 
~Genus—Xenicus. 
15. Xenicus longipes, Gm. 
Green Wren.—Late in the month of December I found the 
nest far up the Havelock river, it was beneath the moss-covered 
roots of an Alpine ribbon-wood tree (Plagianthus lyalliz),; it 
looked like a thick tuft of moss. Beneath this protective cover- 
ing the poucn-shaped nest was built, with the opening near 
the top ; it was almost entirely composed of fern rootlets, the en- 
trance being neatly and strongly formed with extra entwine- 
ments of the same material ; the inside was lined with feathers 
somewhat profusely. The entrance was so well hidden as to be 
scarcely discernible ; it was so difficult to discover that I scarcely 
remember any nest that afforded more pleasure in finding. It 
was ready for use, but contained no eggs. 
16. Xenicus gilviventris, Pelz. 
Rock Wren.—The little bird haunts the taluses of the Alps 
during some of the summer months. We have on several 
occasions made vain attempts to find a nest. During cattle- 
mustering, Ambrose Potts saw as many as thirty or forty at a 
time, amongst them several with the yellowish-green plumage, 
which he supp7sed denoted the dress of the males ; they allowed 
a very close approach, but when alarmed retired swiftly into the 
crevices and spaces between the rocks. Several taluses he 
visited had their assemblage of wrens actively moving about. 
Many rocks were displaced, but the birds he was unable to trace. 
He thought they made their way through the shingle below. 
