32 NEW ZEALAND RIHDS. 



upon itj he would tear off the hard parts, and then, throwing the 

 gruh upwards to secure it lengthwise in his hill, would swallow it 

 Avholc. For the first few days these birds were comparatively quiet, 

 remaining stationary on their perch as soon as their hunger Avas 

 appeased. But they afterwards became more lively and active, 

 indulging in play Avitli each other, and seldom remaining more than a 

 few moments in one position. I sent to the woods for a small 

 branched tree, and placed it in the centre of the room, the floor of 

 which was spread with sand and gravel. 



" It Avas most interesting to Avatch these graceful birds hopping 

 from branch to branch, occasionally spreading the tail into a broad 

 fan, displaying themselves in a variety of natural attitudes, and then 

 meeting to caress each other with their iA'ory bills, uttering at the 

 same time a low affectionate tAvitter. They generally moved along 

 the branches by a succession of light hops after the manner of 

 the Kokako fGla/fcopis chierea) ; and they often descended to the 

 floor, where their mode of progression Avas the same. They seemed 

 never to tire of probing and chiselling Avith their beaks. Having 

 discovered that the canvas lining of the room Avas pervious, they Avere 

 incessantly piercing it, and tearing oft' large strips of paper, till, in 

 the course of a fcAv days, the Avails Avere completely defaced. But 

 what interested me most of all Avas the manner in which the birds 

 assisted each other in their search for food, because it appeared to 

 explain the use, in the economy of nature, of the differently-formed 

 bills in the tAVO sexes. To divert the birds, I introduced a log of 

 decayed Avood infested with the huhu grub. They at once attacked 

 it, carefully probing the softer parts Avitli their bills, and then 

 vigorously assailing them, scooping out the decayed Avood till the 

 larva or pupa was visible, Avhen it was carefully drawn from its cell, 

 treated in the way described above, and then SAvallowed. The very 

 different development of the mandibles in the tAvo sexes enabled 

 them to perform separate offices. The male always attacked the 

 more decayed portions of the Avood, chiselling out his prey after the 

 manner of some Woodpeckers, Avliile the female probed Avitli her long 

 pliant bill the other cells, where the hardness of the surrounding 

 parts resisted the chisel of her mate." — Bullek. 



