138 Transactions. — Zoology. 



Linnets, and Greenfinches build their nests there in great 

 numbers. From the shelter of these masses of fohage' the 

 Kohoperoa sends forth his extraordinary call, which is loud, 

 penetrating, and very frequent during the early morning and 

 forenoon, getting gradually quieter, uttered at longer intervals^ 

 and becoming very drowsy and low as noon approaches. It. 

 then ceases, and the bird probably sleeps for a few hours. The 

 call is again uttered as evening approaches, and the Cuckoo 

 becomes active and restless, getting ready to leave its retreat. 

 The peculiar call is heard all through the summer nights, and 

 is mistaken by many persons for the cry of the Smaller Owl, 

 or Morepork {Scekglaux novce-zealandicB). The cry of the 

 latter, however, is quite distinct, being a weird purring 

 sound, much more disturbing to the belated wayfarer who 

 passes through the dense bush than the not unpleasant notes 

 of the Cuckoo. On the other hand, a number of people mis- 

 take the thin grating whistle of the Green Linnet for the call 

 of the Kohoperoa; but this also can be readily distinguished, 

 as It is not nearly so loud, nor has it the ascending series of 

 notes of the latter bird Sometimes when the Cuckoo is chased 

 by the Tui he will settle along a good-sized bough, and, turn- 

 ing towards his pursuers, make a curious defiant crowing 

 sound(906). And it has yet another cry, difficult to describe, 

 which is only heard at night when the bird is flying low among 

 the trees. This is a queer sort of rattling noise, something 

 between the curious chuckle of the Kaka and a very quick 

 clucking of the Hen {Galhis domesticii,s){SSq). 



The moment our Cuckoo shows itself in the day-time it is 

 pounced upon by all the small fry in the way of native birds, 

 who pursue and torment it until it reaches the safety of long 

 grass or thicket once more. 



It flies with a peculiar swooping movement at times, and 

 by some observers is credited with strong volant powers; but, 

 as it is only seen on the wing for a few seconds at a time, 

 little is at present known of this. The flight is peculiar, with 

 a very rapid motion of the wings, and Mr. Potts says that " it 

 flies l)ut a short distance at a time, and in the young bird the 

 flight is awkward ; the bird alights heavily on the ground, turn- 

 ing each time it settles so that it faces the direction from 

 whence it flew "(62). This is a ciu-ious habit; can any one 

 suggest an explanation? Can it in any way be an indication 

 in the voung bird of turning toward or against the wind, and 

 does it afford any clue towards the elucidation of the nugratory 

 instinct? Is it, on the other hand, an indication in the young 

 bird of an instinctive turning to face its enemy, a feeling that 

 the instant it alights it should turn its face to its foes? Is this 

 the same instinct whicii causes the bird when it perches on a 

 branch to immediately turn sideways along it, partly to assist 



