Mr. J. Haast on the Birds of New Zealand. 105 



'' It is true that the New-Zealand songsters cannot be com- 

 pared with the European singing-birds ; but their music has also 

 its charms, and it is a moment of delight for the traveller to 

 listen to the concert of all the different birds when the morning 

 dawns. Amongst them the Kakorimaka {Anthornis melanura) 

 is most conspicuous. I can only compare their united tune, as 

 Captain Cook has already done with great justness, although 

 each Anthornis has only a few notes, to well-tuned chimes ; and 

 I was never tired of listening to their morning concert, which 

 generally ceases when the jealous Kaka begins with its discord- 

 ant screams. The Tui {Prosthemadera nova zelandia) is another 

 songster which assists in the performance of the concerts. Two 

 other birds are very numerous. The first is the Kakako {Cal- 

 Iceas cinerea), the New Zealand Crow; generally a pair is toge- 

 ther. They remain in the lower grounds, and are not frightened 

 at man ; so that they can be easily secured. Their musical 

 although melancholy notes, which harmonize with their sable 

 hue, resounding through the tranquil woods, give a certain 

 charm to their appearance. Another and a more gay fellow, 

 belonging to the family Turdida, is the Piopio [Turnagra crassi- 

 rostris), the Thrush of the settlers. It is a very inquisitive and 

 social bird, generally making its appearance as soon as the tra- 

 veller halts. The beautiful Pigeon {Carpophaga novce zelandice) 

 is also abundant in the lower countries, where the vegetation 

 does not principally consist of black birch [Fagus). Where this 

 tree is predominant the birds are not so numerous. This bird 

 is so stupid as often to remain sitting upon a branch until the 

 traveller has cut a long stick and passed the flax-snare at the 

 end of it round its neck. 



" Amongst the small inhabitants is one which, by its tameness, 

 always gives animation to the camp ; it is the Totoara, the New 

 Zealand Robin, which is the first to welcome the explorer in the 

 wilderness, and which remains steadily near the camp. Gravely 

 does it look to the doings of men ! I observed how strictly these 

 Robins maintain the right of priority. The second comer was 

 always fought till he went away ; and the first remained on the 

 spot till he was killed for fishing or snaring purposes, when the 

 second one very soon took his daugerous place. At first it is 



