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XIV. 
THE MOREPORK. 
MOREPORK are more often heard than seen, and 
the birds themselves more often seen than their 
nests. It once happened, nevertheless, that in ten 
days I discovered three breeding holes tenanted 
by these Owls. Two of the nests were on the 
small island where we were camped; the third 
in the woods at the southern end of Pegasus 
harbour, nearly opposite the bare grey granite 
cones of Gog and Magog. The breeding hole most 
closely watched was a considerable opening, where, 
during some past storm, a branch had been 
wrenched from the main trunk. There during 
subsequent years a cavity had formed, the centre 
wood decaying, the ragged edges remaining firm 
and sound. Within the raised rim of this shallow 
cup brooded the female Owl on two glossy, white, 
round eggs. Thus sitting, she enjoyed a filtered 
shade such as attracts the wandering Moreporks 
so often found perched in our New Zealand woods 
