OOLOGY OF NEW ZEALAND. Ora 
whole subject is indeed a vast one, but it was only possible to study it 
intelligently when evolutionary principles were assented to. 
6. The last class of evidence in favour of the doctrine is that 
furnished by Paleontology, or the study of fossil organisms. ‘This is, 
however, a line of research to which I have not, personally, devoted 
much attention, and I do not feel competent to speak on it with that 
familiarity which a lecturer should have with his subject. Besides, 
the bearing of paleontology on botanical evolution has not received 
much attention from our geologists in this country, and although 
very interesting indications have been obtained as to the origin of our 
New Zealand flora from our more recent geological formations, still 
all that is known up to the present time is a mere nothing. The field 
lies open to anyone who is not afraid to face a great subject. The 
whole question has been so ably handled by Darwin in his “‘ Magnum 
Opus,” that I cannot do better than suggest that those who have not 
yet read it, should at once make themselves acquainted with this 
epoch-making book. 
(To be continued ). 
OOLOGY OF NEW ZEALAND.* 
—>- 
BY T. H. POTTS. 
Family Turdide—Thrushes. 
Genus—Turnagra. 
33. Turnagra crasstrostris, Grol. 
Thrush, Piopio.—The nest is firmly and strongly built on a foun- 
dation of small sprays, on this is placed moss, with which is interwoven 
fine pliant twigs; it is lined with slender grasses, sometimes with tree 
fern scales. There is considerable difference in the size of the nests; 
as far as my observation goes, the larger and thicker walled nests 
are usually to be found in moist or damp situations. Itis built in 
tutu (Coriaria), karamu (Coprosma), or manuka (Leptospermum) ; a very 
favourite position is immediately below the head of a tree-fern, where 
it is screened and sheltered by the extended fronds; it may be 
observed at varying distances from the ground, from three to fifteen 
feet. An average specimen of the nest measures, across the top, 
about seven inches; cup, three inches in diameter; with a depth of 
two inches. The thrush lays from two to four eges annually, but I 
have found it incubating a single egg. The eggs differ in shape, 
being ovoid, broadly ovoid, ovoido-conical, or elongate with the smaller 
end blunt, or sometimes rather pointed; of very delicate texture, 
white, shining, with a few small dots of black rather sparingly dis- 
tributed over the surface generally; or spotted with blackish brown 
or black, purplish at the margin of the spots; or blotched near the 
larger end with purplish brown marks. A specimen in the collection 
of the Otago Museum is sparsely sprinkled with small black dots, and 
Continued from yp, 288. 
