Fulton. — The Fipnvharauroa, or Bronze Cuckoo. 405 



to berry-feeding, and, finding sustenance more easily obtainable, fail in 

 many cases to migrate in autiunn. That this does happen is well known ; 

 a number of instances of cuckoos wintering here (40) are recorded. 



A correspondent from Waihi lells us that the birds have been a nuisance 

 in his orchard. Writing on the 9th February he says, " I watched two 

 shining cuckoos — the first pair I have observed here this summer — attacking 

 a Burbank plum-tree to-night ; they were literally gorged. I do not know 

 whether this penchant for fruit is extraordinary, but I send you the facts." 



At the end of February most of the old birds have gone north so far as 

 New Zealand is concerned, but a gentleman from Taranaki who knows the 

 birds intimately reports from Hobart, Tasmania, " The pipiwliarauroa was 

 'ery plentiful here during the week ending the 16th February, and its 

 joyous note could be heard in every gully. On the 16tli, however, we had 

 a very cold snap, with frost, and since then the bird seems to have dis- 

 appeared entirely. It would.be interesting to know if any of your readers 

 have observed anything of the sort in New Zealand." 



Several authorities (38) say the cuckoo is a very shy bird, and I have 

 always fomid it so, but the Maoris say it is easily caught (41). One corre- 

 spondent says, " The golden-backed cuckoo comes here for a short visit 

 every spring, and always sits and calls in a tall gimi-tree between the house 

 and the sheds. After a day or two the birds get bolder, and may be seen 

 within 2f!-. or 3 ft. of my face on any little fruit tree close to the verandah. 

 It also loves a peach-tree which reaches a few feet above the top of the 

 window ; and one day, after searching the tree for any grubs, it boldlv 

 flitted into the room and perched on the furniture quite fearlesslv. I 

 closed the window, and easily caught it. Not knowing what it was, I 

 plucked one marked feather, and reopened the window ; it flew oft" mv 

 hand, and continued its search for food, quite unalarmed. It seemed to 

 catch the flies about the room. I have not noticed more than one at a 

 time, but it always comes each year." 



The lighthouse-keeper at Kahurangi says they generally leave in March, 

 but he saw two young birds there in April, 1908. Mr. D. Quinn, from Dog 

 Island, says he has seen them at Otakou until the beginning of April. 



There is no evidence as to a gradual return along the islands, though 

 this is possible. BuUer (42) says they leave in January, but Captain 

 Hutton (43) makes it clear that young ones are often seen in April. He 

 says, " All the old birds leave the south during the first and second weeks 

 in January, but they do not leave the north until the end of January. 

 Some at least of the young birds leave considerably later than their parents, 

 as they have been shot in the South Island in April. Their times of ap- 

 pearance and departure are wonderfully regular in both Islands and the 

 Chatham Islands. Outside New Zealand there is little information." 



The bird breeds in Norfolk Island. Mr. Bell tells me that it is seen, 

 though very rarely, at the Kermadecs, and it is probable that its winter 

 home is in New Guinea. I have written to New Caledonia and New Guinea, 

 and hope next year to have something authentic on this point. 



Before leaving this interesting subject, I should like to state that all 

 cuckoos were originally nest-builders, and that the habit of parasitism has 

 been slowly acquired. I have gone very fiUly into this subject elsewhere, 

 and have given the various theories advanced for the adoption of this 

 strange habit (44). Some of the American cuckoos are non-parasitic, but 

 are gradually acquiring parasitism. Cowbirds show all stages of the habit, 

 from ordinary nest-building to true parasitism. Our long-tailed cuckoo 



