BIRDS - NEW CALEDONIA L. Macmillan Page 53 Wailu Area: Lower river valley from sea level to 500 ft., A.S.L. Friday, 5th May, 1939. WEATHER: Fine sunny after very heavy rain the previous night. Wind, W.S.W. and South. Clouds, 40%. HABITAT: Heathlands, low shrubs up to 3ft. with odd ones up to 5 ft. widely scattered. In between a dense ground scrub of brackern-fern and long grass with many low shrubs, lantana, etc. Also open river flats well grassed and used for grazing cattle. ALL BUSH WAS VERY WET TILL ABOUT MIDDAY. BIRDS: Birds were inactive till most of the water was dried off the bush. Some movement about half an hour after sunrise (6:40a.m.) but did not feed for long, quickly returning to perches. They hardly moved at all till about 8:30 a.m. or 9:00 when they had a short period of feeding but by 9:15 a.m. all had again become more or less quiet. During the afternoon from 2 p.m. onwards there was much feeding and activity going on. Megalurulus: This species must average at least 2 birds, and probably more per acre in heathlands and brackern-fern country. Numbers are somewhat less in long grass paddocks (grazing being spelled), but increase to the above figure along the edges of scrubby watercourses or storm water channels in such country. Is shy and hard to collect though very often heard. Sk. No. 45A. MEGALURULUS: Megalurulus: Male AD., 1/2 plus, white. SOFT PARTS: Iris, warm light brown; bill, black; L&F, dull flesh. SHOT: 7 a.m. WGHT: 26.7 gms. W: 73. TL:90 SKL: C.O. STM: 1/1, molluscs, cricket, spider. MOULT: ABR: W/T. slight. Wing; L.14