OOLOGY OF NEW ZEALAND. 483 
show that these eggs belong to the Mountain Nestor: their 
occurrence is recorded for the consideration of ornithologists. 
OrpER 1V.—PiGEeons—CoLUMB. 
Family Columbide— Pigeons. — 
, Genus—Carpophaga. 
54. Oarpophaga nove-zealandie. 
Pigeon, Kuku.—Formerly immense numbers of this beautiful 
bird were found in most parts according to the season of the 
ripening of fruits and berries. It is surprising that so few nests 
have been secured, for the egg is one of the rarer specimens in collec- 
tions.* Perhaps few birds show more art in the construction of their 
homes than does the pigeon in the arrangement of the slender twigs 
which form the well-poised platform on which it rears its young. The 
slight fabric which at first glance appears of a rude careless matter 
has its materials so nicely adiusted as to bear with safety the weight 
of its heavy builders. It may be said to resemble somewhat .the 
hollow of the human hand. In the slight depression of the platform, 
the egg or young lies undisturbed by the swaying caused by the 
passing wind. It enjoys a long breeding season probably on account 
of its migratory habits which lead it to feeding ground where its food 
is to be found in most abundance; this habit of its changing its 
quarters may be a reason why its nest is seldom met with. It is said 
the Maories are averse to taking the nest of the Kuku considering it 
is unlucky to do so. I have seen the birds pairing just before 
Christmas on the West Coast to the south Waio river. In Milford 
Sound I have taken the nest on Jan. 9th, near the Cledau river, in a 
sapling miro (Podocarpus), at about 18 feet from the ground; it con- 
tained one young bird sparsely covered with brownish, yellow down, 
which was longest over the neck and breast; abdomen bare; bill, 
dull flesh, inclining to slatey ; round the eye, bare; yellowish spot on 
upper mandible ; legs, feet, and claws, leaden to flesh colour. On the 
nest with the young bird, there yet remained some fragments of ege- 
shell and pieces of dung. The spaces and openings of the latticed 
nest befit the dirty habits of the pigeon; as the excrement dries 
probably most of it disappears through the nest. The handsomest 
specimen of the nest in the collection of the writer was built ona 
totara (P. totara) on a branch covered with Loranthus micranthus ; it 
contained one fresh egg (April 14th). The ege is of a perfect oval, 
pure white, elossy ; measuring in length one inch ten lines, with a 
breadth of one inch four lines. Mr. J. D. Enys has furnished me 
with some notes on the breeding habits of the pigeon;. according to 
his observations, it invariably lays but one egg. 
OrpeR V.—GaAmME Brrps—GALuLine. 
Family Tetraonide. 
Genus—Coturnix. 
55. Coturnia nove-zealandic, Quoy. et Gaim. 
Quail, Koreke.—At this early date of the settlement of the 
country it is painful to have to write of a species as a thing of the 
*See “Trans. N.Z. Institute,” Vol. VI., pp. 149-50. 
