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ascertained the difference of the sexes by separating them at night until the second egg was laid. 
The females are much shier and more timid than the males, as they hide themselves on hearing the 
least noise. After sitting nine days on her first egg, the female forsook them, and all efforts to induce 
her to sit again were unavailing. She laid two more eggs a month afterwards, and had sat seven 
days, when, I regret to say, I had to leave home for medical treatment at Timaru. When I returned, 
eight days afterwards, she was still sitting and continued to sit until the 17th November, when she 
left the eggs without bringing out the young. The eggs must have been allowed to get cold when 
eight or nine days sat-on, as when I tried to blow them I found they contained embryo chicks. I 
am glad, however, that I succeeded in getting the eggs ; another season I may succeed in getting 
young birds. I supplied them with many different articles of food, such as beetles, lizards, mice, 
rats, rabbits, and mutton, of all of which they partook freely ; but they have the greatest preference 
for young or half-grown rats. They are a little slow and clumsy in capturing living piey, but their 
want of proper exercise and freedom may account for this ; it may be otherwise in theii wild state. 
After what I have pointed out, there can be no doubt that the Sceloglciux inhabits the diy waim 
crevices of rocks. All the birds I captured I found in such places, generally five or six yards from 
the entrance, perfectly dry, and where no wet could possibly enter. One thing surprised me much 
the very narrowness of the entrance to their cranny. In some instances the birds must have forced 
themselves in. I noticed, however, that the crevices widened as they extended into the rock. The 
bottoms are covered with soft sand crumbled down from the sides, and affording comfortable resting 
places. 
“ Regarding the nidification of this bird, I am no longer surprised that so little is known, and 
likewise of its natural habits, considering that it conceals itself in such inaccessible places, and where 
few would think of searching for it. As a rule they could lay their eggs and hatch their young 
unseen and unmolested. 
“ The breeding-season may be said to extend over September and October. I found the bird 
mentioned in my last letter sitting on an egg on the 25th September ; but it must have been laid about 
the beginning of the month, as it contained the chick I sent you. I discovered the bird by reaching 
a long stick with a lighted taper into the crevice. My captives laid on the 23rd, 27th, and 29th Sep- 
tember, and again on the 20th and 22nd October * The birds were very restless and noisy for a 
fortnight before nesting. They began to moult in December, and are not yet (leb. 8) in full 
plumage. When casting their feathers they have a very curious appearance, as they become almost 
naked. At this stage two of my birds were stung to death, a month ago, by a swarm of bees passing 
through the fine wire netting and taking up their quarters on the roof of their dark recess. I was 
very sorry to lose them, as I cannot now send you a living pair. I have one very fine male I will send 
you in April. I am going to Lyttelton at that time, and I will forward it by the first steamer bound 
for Wellington. I will likewise send you another Owl’s egg, but hardly such a fine specimen as either 
of the two I sent before. I intend to search the rocks carefully for more birds, and, if I succeed in 
finding more, I will not fail to send you a pair. You may, however, rely on getting a second specimen 
from me. I should mention that I have collected a quantity of pellets at different times, composed 
of the hair of rats and mice and the elytra of beetles. Three large species of the latter swarm among 
the debris beneath the main rock, and certainly constitute part of the bird’s food.” 
From Mr. Smith’s further notes I have extracted the following account, merely modifying it for 
convenience of narrative : — 
* “ There is an error in the account given by Mr. Potts in his article ‘ On Oology ’ published in ‘ Nature ’ in regard to 
this species He describes an egg in the possession of Master C. Richardson as having been ‘ laid early in January.’ As 1 
procured the specimen I may state that it was laid on the 4th of October. The writer of the above-mentioned article was evidently 
misinformed. — W. W. S.'’ 
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