PASSERES. 25 



32. Turnagra crassirostris. Gml. 



THICK-BIIiLED ThRTTSH. 



(Plate XI.) 



Above, clive-brown ; below, olivaceous, streaked with vi'bite ; tinged with ferruginous 

 on the throat, and yellow on the abdomen ; tail, and some of the wing-coverts, ferruginous • 

 fifth and sixth quills equal, and longest. 



L., 10 5; W., 5; B.,1; T., r2. 



Hah. — South Island. 



" This fine species is confined to the South Island. Formerly it 

 was excessively abundant in all the elevated wooded country; but of 

 late years it has become comparatively scarce^ while in some districts 

 it has disa|)j)eared altogether. This result is attributable^ in a great 

 measure, to the ravages of cats and dogs, to which this species, from 

 its ground-feeding habits, falls an easy prey." — Buller. 



33. Turnagra hectori. Buller. 



Thrush. Piopio. 

 (Plate XT.) 

 Above, olive-brown, marked with ferruginous on the top of the head and wing-coverts ; 

 throat, white ; breast, olivaceous grey ; abdomen, yellowish- white ; tail, ferruginous ; fourth 

 and fifth quills equal, and longest. 

 L., 11 ; W., 5 ; B., 1 ; T., 125. 

 Hab. — South part of the North Island. 



" Comparatively common in all suitable localities throughout the 

 southern portion of the North Island, this bird is extremely rare in 

 the country north of Waikato. A specimen which I shot in the 

 Kaipara district in the summer of 1852 (doubtless a straggler from 

 the south) was quite a novelty to the natives in that part of the 

 country ; it was recognized, however, by one old Maori, who called it 

 a ' Korohea,' a name quite unknown in the South, and who stated 

 that in former years it was very abundant in all the woods. 



" His song consists of five distinct bars, each of which is repeated 

 six or seven times in succession ; but he often stops abruptly in his 

 overture to introduce a variety of other notes, one of which is a 

 peculiar rattling sound, accompanied by a spreading of the tail, and 

 apparently expressive of ecstasy. Some of the notes are scarcely 

 distinguishable from those of the Yellowhead ; and I am inclined to 

 think that the bird is endowed with mocking-powers. The ordinary 

 note, however, of the Piopio, whence it derives its name, is a short, 

 sharp, whistling cry, quickly repeated." — Buller. 



