82 Bird-Song : and New Zealand Song Birds 
It frequents open broken country; and whilst at one time its 
numbers seemed diminishing, owing, as Potts supposed (PO 
p. 131), to the rapidity of reproduction of the introduced sky¬ 
lark, it is still plentiful in many parts of the islands. 
I have not observed what Puller notes (BN, Vol. 1 , p. 651 — 
‘ ‘ During the breeding season the male bird frequently soars 
mounting to a height in the air, and then descends with 
tremulous wings and outspread tail, uttering a prolonged 
trilling note, very pleasant to the ear. ” 
With us in the Antipodes,” writes Guthrie-Smith (GB. 
p. 120), lie takes the place of four British species, the skylark 
the wagtail, the flycatcher, and the robin redbreast.” His 
nest is modelled on that of the skylark ; as a wagtail he runs 
along the river rim, or hops among the stones, tail in perpetual 
motion, rising again and again in short jerky flights; as a fly¬ 
catcher he hawks by the hour from some eminence, tree-bole, 
or sharp ridged spur; and as a redbreast he follows the spade, 
picking out larvae from the overturned soil. “ Often when 
gardening,” says the last-named writer (GB, pp. 122-3) “have 
I had one or two of these cheerful little companions, quite 
friendly, but never overbold, and always wearing that veil of 
shyness so peculiarly their own. Never would the ground-lark 
v ear the abstracted, distrait look of an English robin, never 
v ould he be guilty of such discourtesy as to sit, as does the 
redbreast, like a stone, until he darts on his worm, showing 
that the worm and not your companionship is his real object. 
M\ little brown friend would never do that, each of us gives a 
happiest interpretation to the other’s presence. Mutual 
couitesy is always observed, on my part no too quick motion 
oi sudden throwing down of tools, on his, an exit lingering and 
reluctant, for his departure, too, is like him, little runs and 
pauses that carry him further and further, as if breaking the 
sorrow to me, and when at last he is no longer there, I realize 
the old French proverb and know that of the two parties in 
oui affection it is I who have given my heart, whilst the bird 
only consents to be loved....” 
