124 Transactions. — Zoology. 



able. The egg shown here seems to have assumed an appear- 

 ance approaching those of the different Myiomoira species ; it 

 is also very like that of the Canary, and has a faint resem- 

 blance to that of the Ground-lark. It is quite within the 

 bounds of possibility that the egg which was found in a 

 Lark's nest by Mr. Eeischek, and described by him as a red 

 egg, belonged to the Kohoperoa(33). Unfortunately, he does 

 not say whether the nest was near tlie edge of the bush, 

 or in a place easily and safely accessible to the Cuckoo. 

 The bird would hardly venture into the open, except foi- 

 a few seconds at a time, and even then would pro- 

 bably have to return precipitately to its leafy shelter, 

 lest it should be hunted by all and sundry in the neigh- 

 bourhood. I might here refer to the extraordinary attacks 

 made on Cuckoos by other birds all the world over, 

 and in New Zealand, as elsewhere, they are persistently 

 hunted. Here the Tui and the Mocker are the chief offenders, 

 chasing and tormenting them in the same way as they harry 

 and hum our Owl Sceloglaux albifacies and its smaller con- 

 gener Spiloglaux novcB- zealandicB. The Cuckoo is semi- 

 nocturnal, and seldom seen, though often heard, by its 

 persecutors ; they know it for a stranger, and object to its 

 habits, which drive it to prowl round looking for a convenient 

 lodging for its egg. Besides this, its harsh cry, quietness of 

 flight, its peculiar colouring, hawk-like beak, and cruel j'ellow 

 iris are all combined to make birds which are otherwise 

 sociable very savage at its. approach. It is interesting to note 

 that the Piopio, or Native Tlirush (Tuningra crassirostris), 

 and the Long-tailed Cuckoo, birds of widely divergent genera, 

 are somewhat similarly plumaged, cruel-beaked, yellow-irised. 

 and hawk-like in appearance. I have never read or heard of 

 the Thrush being chased by other birds, but I have always 

 been struck with its savage appeax'ance. In confinement it is 

 carnivorous, and has been known to devour the eggs of the 

 Ringdove as soon as they were laid, and to actually kill 

 two adult Parrakeets and partially devour one of them(34:). 

 It certainly seems to merit the attention of the Tui or Mocker 

 quite as much as if not more than tlie Cuckoo. Tiie latter 

 bird is said to devour the eggs and young of oilier birds, and. 

 curious irony of fate, the only instance I can find recorded of 

 this shows the victim to be the very bird I have just referred 

 to, the Thrush, a true case of the ''the biter bit." Buller 

 says, " From the stomach of one of them I took the body of 

 a young bird, apparently a Native Thrush, or Piopio, partly 

 fledged and only sliglitly mutilated, showing the enormous 

 capacity of the Cuckoo's throat "(35). Buller, Potts(36), 

 and IIandly(37j all atlirm tliat our Cuckoo is predatory, but 

 I have vainly endeavoured to find I'ecorded any other evidence 



