File:Birds of the water, wood and waste (1910) (14750095052).jpg

Identifier: birdsofwaterwood00guth (find matches)
Title: Birds of the water, wood & waste
Year: 1910 (1910s)
Authors: Guthrie-Smith, H. (Herbert), 1861-1940
Subjects: Birds Photography of birds
Publisher: Wellington, N. Z. : Whitcombe & Tombs
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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eight. The nest istilted, and has lost its earlier eminentlytrim and dainty appearance. On Tutirathe Waxeyes nest is always cup shaped,and it seems to me a very remarkable factthat those I have got from about theTaupo district were noticably different anddistinctly boat shaped. These little Waxeyes, when paired, showgreat affection for each other, stroking andpreening one anothers feathers, and cuddlingtogether on the bough. During the eighties the species increasedlargely in numbers. They then used toroost in large flocks among the fern andoften at dawn, when mustering sheep, haveI startled then from repose. At the verypeep of dawn, too, whilst waiting for thesheep to gather, and meanwhile amusingmyself by watching and listening to thebirds have I heard them, deep hidden inthe dewy tutu, singing what can be onlytermed a whisper song, its notes so very softand low as to be inaudible at even a fewfeet. Although not quite so courageous asthe Fantail, the Waxeye, too, is a good PLATE \LM
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Male and Female Wax-eve. WOOD AND WASTE 139 photographic subject. His movements, forone thing, are much more easily caught,and the parent birds incessant feeding ofthe young gives many opportunities. Whenthe youngsters are but a few days old, oneor other of the parents is practically alwayson the nest. The parents then take it inturn to sit, the cock bird sounding forthhis coming and whistling oK his wife, andhe in his turn vacating the nest when shearrives with supplies. The young are fedwith moths, spiders, caterpillars, etc., allcrushed and dead. They are fed fairly, asfar as can be judged, but probably thestrongest and hungriest gets rather morethan its rightful portion. After placing, or rather stuffing in themorsel to a nestlings mouth it is some-times found to be too large, and whilst thebody of it has gone, the long legs or wdngsstill project like antennae. This conditionof things is then considered judiciously fora moment by the feeding parent, and themorsel often withdrawn a

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