WOOD-PIGEON’S NEST.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 May 1924, Page 3

WOOD-PIGEON’S NEST.

(Oy J. Drummond. F.L.S.. F.Z.S. in “Lyttelton Times”). A rare sight in New Zealand was noted by .Master It. A. Creswell, Koutu, I’arikaiiapa. nc.tr Cishonu*. last sumlilt’!*. It is u. w«nj(U|:in;coii\s nest. The wood-pigeon is one of the birds of New Zealand which has been ruthlessly destroyed by the gun, but which happily, still are plentiful in places. Its nest is so inconspicuous, on account mainly of the simple style of .structure, that many people who have lived in New Zen kind forests all their lives have not seen one. .Master C’reswell supplies the following description of the nest liesaw; --\Vo were riding through a lairly large | ieec of hush at the back ol our station, when we were surprised to see a wood-pigeon sitting on a nest. Mlien the owner saw us looking, it puiiMsely unshed its .three-day-old cluck off tin- im-m. null its bill, notched it tall, and then calmly llew away. Me lound that the chick was covered in places with soft, hairy down, and bad a very coarse appearance. T climbed oj) the kowhiwhi tree. In which the nest had been built, about fifteen feet Imm the ground. It rested on a natural platform, made by a small brunch Ix-ring snapped rdf and by sprouts that grew at the sides of vice branch. Sticks bad been placed on -the plutlorm. and light sticks on top of them. The rest was frail-looking, but strong. M'ben we placed the pieces of shell together, they made a white egg. almost round.” On the same day, riding dose to the same piece of bush. Alnster Croswell heard a sudden twit-

teriug. Dismounting from his horse to inquire, he looked into a glade, and saw a young shining cuckoo, which two grey warblers were feeding. Tin* cuckoo, which was embellished with very pretty bars on its breast, seemed to he enjoying itself.