Andersen. — New Zealand Bird-song. 



595 



The Grey "Warbler. 



No. (21) is rather a little soliloquy than a song : it sounded tentative, 

 as if the bird were trying its voice, and might break into song at any part 

 of this uncertain prelude ; but the song rarely followed. The opening 

 was varied as in (21a), and the whole was sung more softly than the ordinary 

 song. The usual rambling indeterminate song was heard many times on 



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the West Coast, and a few new definite themes were noted. That of (22) 

 was repeated, twice or more in succession, and was heard on different days 

 at Mahinapua ; (23), heard at Bluespur, was repeated several times, as were 

 (24), the opening varied as in (24a), and (25) ; the last two themes were 

 heard at Fisherman's Creek, opposite Hokitika, on the south side of the 

 The notes of (24a) were at times sounded alone. 



river. 



The Yellow-breasted Tit. 



The ordinary song (1) was varied as in (8), at Stony Bay Bush, the song 

 occupying about two seconds. The variation (9), one and a half seconds, 

 was heard at Fisherman's Creek, Hokitika. 



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The Long-tailed Cuckoo. 



This was not heard in 1913-14 ; but whilst at Hokitika I was several 

 times conversing with Mr. J. Cunningham, surveyor, who has had long 

 experience in both North and South Island bush, and he informed me that 

 on one occasion he was camped on the western slope of a sharp ridge 

 between Coromandel and Thames : hearing a great twittering, and attracted 

 by its unusual sound, he investigated, and found large numbers of long- 

 tailed cuckoos gathered together. Suspecting they might be assembling 

 for migrating, he watched all night, but they remained that night and next 

 day, when still more came, till they were there " in hundreds." He watched 

 next night too, but knew he must have dozed for a short time, as in the 

 morning all were gone : they must have left between 2 o'clock and dav- 

 break. 



