294 



Transactions. 



The whisper-song of the bell-bird appears to be more definite than that 

 of the tui. I took (35) to be one of the tui's bubbling whisper-songs until 

 I actually saw a bell-bird singing a similar theme. It was sung very softly, 

 with curious interjections separating the phrases, about five quavers a 

 second. Often the tlank, or other interjection, only is heard, when it may 

 be known that a whisper-song is in progress, and snatches may be heard 

 on a nearer approach. Similar in character was (37), the phrases being 

 again separated by one of the expletives so liked by the tui. These songs 

 are sung for two or three minutes at a time, are more clear than the tui's, 

 and appear more under the control of the bird. On the theme of (38) was 

 built a long whisper-song, and this song is one of the best examples of art 

 in bird-song that I have heard. It was perfectly regular in time, and each 

 varied phrase was introduced by an expletive. The first part was many 

 times repeated, at times as in the second part, and in several other forms. 

 The notes were mellow, occasionally swelling to a bell sound. At a distance 

 of 20 ft. nothing could be heard but the kwak. at regular intervals of about 

 two seconds. When at half that distance the song was barely audible ; yet, 

 soft as it was, there was a perceptible swell and dying-away in intensity. 

 The song was sung at dusk, and after continuing for two or three minutes 

 stopped abruptly on my attempting to approach up the slope to hear more 

 clearly. Another bird sat in sight close above me singing the short phrase 

 of (39) — partly a whisper-song, the tlock being clear and bell-like. The 

 song (40) suddenly came from close beside me, followed after a moment by 

 the common call. 



Kara. 



Noisy as the kaka usually is, the female has a crooning song at breeding- 

 time — a soft, gentle song, quite different from the usual raucous cry. 

 I saw several kaka at Kapiti, but they were quiet : the cry heard was 

 kree-ah, as in (1), taking a little over a second, or kee-aw-w-w-w, as in (1a). 

 the long aw being broken as if by momentary stoppages of the breath, 

 The vocalization was somewhat similar to the cry of the kea, but the 

 sound was fuller and broader. In a secluded valley I saw two kaka sitting 

 on a branch, one a little below the other. The lower bird seemed coaxing 

 the upper with a continual ke ke ke ke as in (2), repeated three notes a 

 second, at intervals of two or three seconds, leaning up towards it, shivering 

 its body and spreading it tail at each repetition. This went on for several 



(0- 



1^ 



kree-aU 



minutes, when the upper bird, thitherto quite unconcerned and inattentive, 

 seized the lower by the upper bill, apparently, and shook it. The shaking, 

 however, would appear to be due to the act of regurgitation ; the bird 

 was feeding the young one, which waved its wings and sometimes "whined" 

 a little during the shaking. The food was evidently passed into the mouth 

 of the young bird at the end of each quivering. The process was gone 

 through four or five times, the old bird running away each time, or flying 

 to a short distance, and sitting apart for a minute or so. Both birds, when 

 apart, scraped the sides of their beak on the branch, the young one also 



