from the Antipodes. 243 



their united voices — some clear and distinct, others mellowed 

 by distance — have a very pleasing effect. As far as I could 

 judge, each bird seems to utter but a single note at- a time, 

 though capable of using a great variety. Their concert is like 

 a peal of bells, each bell emitting one clear, short note. The 

 Korimaka feeds on the juices of flowers and small insects. 

 I kept two alive for some time in an aviary; they fed in the 

 same manner as the Tui {Prosthemadera novce-zelandicB), from a 

 cocoanut-shell filled with bread plentifully saturated with sugar 

 and water. Like the Tui, also, they all die in fits, dropping off 

 their perch, with their feet cramped and distorted. 



If a fly, moth, or Cicada happened to enter the aviary, the 

 Tuis and Korimakas would dart down upon it, beat it for a 

 moment on a perch, and, throwing up their heads, swallow the 

 coveted morsel — wings, legs, and all. 



There is another little bird, not uncommon about gardens, 

 whose curious stridulous song is just like the creaking of an 

 ungi'cased wheel of a barrow : so measured is its tone, that the 

 listener, struck with the resemblance, seems to see the wheel 

 turning, and to know the exact part of the revolution which will 

 produce the sound. 



A little red-headed Parrot {Trichoglossus aurifrons) is found 

 abundantly about Wellington ; but I did not observe it in the 

 north of the island. It lives well in confinement ; and I was in- 

 formed by a lady, who had kept many of them, that they would 

 breed in a cage. 



But the bird that most attracts the eye of a stranger in the 

 forest is the "Tui-tui.^^ This noisy fellow is for ever on the 

 move, either flitting about the trees or soaring in airy circles 

 over the forest. This latter pastime generally comes off in the 

 evening, and at first I thought was indulged in to procure food ; 

 but I found, on watching the birds more closely with a glass, 

 that it was as much for sport as for food. Eight or ten may 

 often be seen flying together over the trees, turning, twisting, 

 throwing somersaults, dropping from a height with expanded 

 wings and tails, and performing other antics, till, as if guided 

 by some preconcerted signal, they suddenly dive into the forest 

 and are lost to view. 



s2 



