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By the settlers it has been variously designated as Ring-eye, Wax-eye, White-eye, or Silver- 
eye, in allusion to the beautiful circlet of satiny-white feathers which surrounds the eyes ; and quite 
as commonly the “ Blight-bird,” or “ Winter-migrant. 
I have frequently watched the habits of this little bird, and with much interest. As already 
stated, it is gregarious, flying and consorting in flocks, except in the breeding-season, when they are 
to be observed singly or in pairs. As soon as a flock of them alights on a tree, or clump of brush- 
wood, they immediately disperse in quest of food; and, on a cautious approach, may be seen 
prosecuting a very diligent search among the leaves and flowers, and in the crevices of the bark, for 
the small insects and aphides on which they principally subsist. I have opened many specimens, at 
all seasons, and I have invariably found their stomachs crammed with minute insects and their larvae. 
In some I have found the large pulpy scale-insect ( Coccus , sp.), of a dull green colour, which is 
commonly found adhering to the leaves of the ramarama ( Myrtus bullata) ; also small caterpillars, 
grasshoppers, and coleoptera, and occasionally the small fruity seeds of Rubus australis and other 
native plants. In our orchards and gardens it regales itself freely on plums, cherries, figs, goose- 
berries, and other soft fruits ; but it far more than compensates for this petty pilfering by the whole- 
sale war it carries on against the various species of insects that affect our fruit-trees and vegetables. 
It feeds on that disgusting little aphis known as American blight, which so rapidly covers with a 
fatal cloak of white the stems and branches of our best apple-trees ; it clears our early cabbages of a 
pestilent little insect that, left unchecked, would utterly destroy the crop ; it visits our gardens and 
devours another swarming parasite that covers our roses and other flowering plants, to say nothing 
of its general services as an insectivorous bird. Surely, in return for these important benefits, to 
both orchard and garden, the flocks of Zosterops may justly be held entitled to an occasional feed 
of cherries, or to a small tithe of the ripe fruits which they have done so much to defend and 
cherish ! 
It is very pretty to see a pair of them feeding together on a single berry of the poroporo ( Solanum 
nigrum) or diligently scooping out the centre of a ripe fig, their ever-changing positions being very 
artistic. 
A favourite resort of this bird in the early part of November is the kohia creeper ( Passiflora 
tetandra), which covers much of the low scrub on the outskirts of the forest, and is at this time a 
mass of white bloom. The little bell-shaped flowers, which diffuse so much fragrance through the 
woods, being full of nectar, attract the little golden butterfly ( Chrysophanus enysi ) and swarms of 
gaily-coloured diptera. Here the Zosterops, in addition to the sip of honey, finds an abundance 
of its favourite insect food. When thus engaged, it emits a soft plaintive cry, repeated at short 
intervals ; but on the wing, and especially when consorting in a flock, it utters a rapid twittering note. 
During the breeding-season the male indulges in a low musical strain of exquisite sweetness, but very 
subdued, as if singing to himself or performing for the exclusive benefit of his partner. This song 
is something like the subdued strain of the Korimako ( Anthornis melanura), but much softer. 
I have already mentioned the circumstance of a flock of these birds being generally attended by 
two or more sentinels or call-birds, who take their station on the topmost twigs, as a post of observa- 
tion. and whose sharp signal-note instantly brings the whole fraternity together. On one occasion, 
while out pheasant-shooting at Wangaehu, the sound of my companion’s whistle, although more than 
200 yards away, attracted the notice of a flock of Zosterops consorting together in the top of a lofty 
kahikatea tree. The call-birds gave the alarm, and the whole flock, amidst much clamour, ascended 
high in the air and disappeared behind a neighbouring hill. The sentinels appear to be always on 
the alert ; and I have seen the same effect produced on a flock of these birds by the cry of a hawk, 
or any other suspicious sound, although there was no appearance of immediate danger. 
If shot at and wounded it generally manages to escape capture by scrambling nimbly off into 
