Art. XXVII.—Zoological Notes: (1.) Arboreal Nests of Bushrat (Mus maorium); (2.) Paryphanta hochstetteri found at Low Levels at West Wanganui.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 27, 1894, Page 238

Art. XXVII.—Zoological Notes: (1.) Arboreal Nests of Bushrat (Mus maorium); (2.) Paryphanta hochstetteri found at Low Levels at West Wanganui. By R. I. Kingsley. [Read before the Nelson Philosophical Society, 12th March, 1894.] Some few weeks since Mr. H. V. Gully observed a nest of a rat in the branches of a small tree or large shrub at Awaroa, near Totaranui. On his mentioning the circumstance to me, at my request he sent for the nest, which I now exhibit. It was at a height of from 4ft. to 5ft. from the ground. His attention was drawn to it by observing a rat leaving it and descending the stem of the tree. On examination he found there were two or three other nests near by, and in one of these there were four young rats. From the appearance of the mature animal Mr. Gully believes it, to be not of the common type (Mus decumanus), but rather of the same species as those which appeared in such swarms in the spring of

1884, referred to in vol. xvii., page 199, and spoken of there as Mus maorium. The nest does not show any large amount of architectural skill, and is composed chiefly of the dead leaves of sedge and Cordyline, with a few dead leaves from trees. I am informed that the flat whereon these nests were found is liable during floods to be submerged. I am unaware that this arboreal nesting habit of the rat has been observed before. Addendum.—The foregoing paper elicited further information respecting the occurrence of nests in trees. From Motueka and Riwaka, Mr. F. Huffam and Mr. H. White give instances of finding nests in branches of trees and shrubs. Mr. J. Dall, of Collingwood, is also well acquainted with numerous instances, and several persons in Nelson have also observed the same, while Mr. Richmond Hursthouse assures me that years ago in Taranaki he used to find the nests of the small bush-rat at some considerable altitude from the ground, generally concealed among the foliage of kiekie (Freycinetia banksii). I may add that all observers are unanimous in declaring the species with the arboreal habit as being identical with the small bush-rat of 1884, and this therefore tends to prove that there are still survivors among us of that great invasion. Paryphanta Hochstetteri. The specimens of land mollusca exhibited were collected on my recent visit to West Wanganui. They were found at a place not more than 50ft. or 60ft. above sea-level, and where the bush had been partially cleared away. I took note of the surroundings, and found that on each occasion when success rewarded our search it was either more or less under the shade of hinau trees (Elaeocarpus dentatus), the berries from which were strewn on the ground. The mollusca may very easily be overlooked, as they lie very close generally, in a small depression (self-made, I presume) in the ground, and underneath the dry leaves and rubbish. I did not think these were hochstetteri, as the usual habitat is at a considerable altitude, but Professor Hutton has kindly examined them, and has so identified them.