86 Transactions. — Zoology. 



and manga-manga, which made it so dense that I had to cut 

 the way with my hunting-knife. This place I found a favourite 

 resort of these birds, (which have cost me so much time, labour, 

 and patience,) having a warm aspect, exposed to the sun. 

 There I saw male and female, the latter for the first time ; but, 

 unfortunately, my friend was carrying the gun, and before he 

 could hand it to me, both birds had disappeared. On the 8th 

 November, I saw a male at the same place, and on going over 

 a range I heard another ; subsequently I went round it, and 

 saw male and female near a nest, and endeavoured to observe 

 them unnoticed, but they quickly saw me, and in the act of 

 escaping I shot them. I then went and examined the nest, 

 which was only half finished, built of very small branches, 

 roots, and fine native grass, and lined with hairy substance off 

 the fronds of the punga. 



In December, 1883, in the centre of the island, I observed 

 a pair of adults with three young birds. On the male noticing 

 me, he uttered a shrill whistle, and the female immediately hid 

 amongst the fern for a considerable time. I procured several 

 specimens; of which I gave Dr. Buller a male, female, and 

 young. I have only once seen these birds sitting still, and that 

 was near the nest. They appear always on the move, carrying 

 their heads proudly, their wings drooped, and their tails spread 

 and raised ; and, at each successive movement, they utter that 

 peculiar whistle from which the Natives have named them 

 " Tiora." The female has a different note, sounding like " tar, 

 tac, tac," repeated several times. They feed on small berries 

 and insects, and suck the honey from the native wild-flowers 

 and trees, as many of the latter exude honey during the night. 

 In fine weather I have found them on the mountains between 

 precipices, in low scrub, where the aspect is warm ; but in 

 bad weather, lower down in the gullies, in places entangled with 

 numerous creepers. They are not strong on the wing, but 

 very active in hopping and climbing, which enables them to 

 quickly escape from sight. 



The plumage of the male is as follows : — Head and neck, 

 shining velvet black, with a few long silvery white ear-feathers ; 

 shoulders, golden yellow; upper secondary, white, with brownish 

 black points, and a slight splash of white under the wing covers ; 

 wings and tail, brownish black, each feather edged on the 

 outer side with olive green ; tail cover, greenish tinge, and 

 a yellow band round the breast ; abdomen, greyish brown ; 

 bill, black ; eyes, dark brown ; feet, light brown. The female 

 is a little smaller than the male, of olive brown colour on the 

 top of the head, back, wing, and tail, each feather being 

 shaded with olive green ; shoulders, yellowish ; upper secondary, 

 white, with yellowish brown shade, ear feathers hardly per- 

 ceptible, under part brownish grey ; bill, legs, and eyes enme 



