12 NEW ZEALAND HIRDS. 



notes, though simple, are varied and sweetly chimed ; and, as the hird 

 is of soeial habits, the morning anthem, in which scores of these sylvan 

 choristers perform together, is a concert of eccentric parts, producing 

 a wild hut pleasing melody. I liave occasionally heard a solitary J3ell- 

 bird pouring forth its liquid notes after the darkness of advancing 

 night had silenced all the other denizens of the grove. It ought to be 

 mentioned, moreover, that both sexes sing. When alarmed or excited 

 they utter a strain of notes which I can only compare to the sound 

 produced by a policeman's rattle quickly revolved. This cry, or the 

 bird-catcher's imitation of it, never fails to attract to the spot all the 

 Bell-birds within hearing. The Maoris are accustomed to snare them 

 by means of a tuki baited Avith the crimson flowers of the Metrosideros. 

 The bird alights on the treacherous perch to sip the floAvers, and a 

 sudden jerk on a running noose secures it firmly by the leg. 



" In former times, when this species Avas abundant throughout the 

 whole country, certain forest-ranges Avere famed as Korimako pre- 

 serves, and Avere highly prized on that account by the natives owning 

 them. At the present day, in the investigation of native titles to laud, 

 the ' snaring of Korimakos ' by their ancestors is an act of OAvncrship 

 frequently pleaded in support of the tribal claim." — Bullek. 



12. Anthornis melanocephala. Gray. 



(Plato YII.) 



YcUowisli-olive ; head, steel-black ; neck, breast, and upper tail-coverts tinged with 

 black. 



L., 11-25 ; W., 4-25 ; B., l"! ; T., 15. 

 -ffa J. — Chatham Islands only. 



" This species, Avhich is a native of the Chatham Islands, is very 

 similar to the wciU-knoAvn Anthornis nielunura ; but, as will be seen on 

 referring to the measurement given above, it is considerably larger. 

 It differs, moreover, in haAdug the Avhole of the head and neck brightly 

 glossed Avith purplish or steel-blue.'' — Buller. 



ZosTEEOPS. Tig. and Ilorsf. 



Bill, slightly curved : tliird quill longest, first longer than fourth ; tail, cmarginatc ; 

 eyes surrounded by a circle of white featliers. 

 India, Africa, Australia, Fiji. 



13. Zosterops lateralis. Laik. 



White-eye. Wax-eye. BLionT-BiitD. Tauiiou. 



Head, and over the tail, bright olive ; back, dark grey ; tliroat, yellow ; abdomen, 

 white;; flanks, rufous. The female is rather smaller than Die male, and, in the young, the 

 chin is light grey, and the white circle round the eye is obscure or absent. 



L., 5 ; W., 2-3 ; B., -5 ; T., -fi. 



£■,9^7.— Ovoid ; blue ; length, "7 ; breadth, '5. 



Bah. — Both Islands ; Chatham Islands; Australia, and Tasmania. 



