^';'-,_^' J M'Lkax, Bush-Biyds of Neiv Zealand. I79 



than in that to tlic south, where, however, a tair number was to 

 be seen about the scrub and second-growth outside Usually in 

 pairs, it showed in winter some preference for the tawa country, 

 but was also to be met with in the lighter tawhera at that season. 

 Though rarely seen upon the birch ridges, one of a pair which 

 had its quarters there treated our camp at daybreak for many 

 weeks to its merry morning chimes. But it was not until the 

 spring that they became more generally dispersed, when they 

 sought the flowering trees in many parts. Some of the patches 

 of tawa were in midwinter a favourite resort, and the broken 

 peals from the half-dozen pairs which generally affected these 

 places could be heard at intervals throughout the day. There 

 they found, besides a supply of insect food, two species of slender 

 rata vine (Metrosidcros) — one white, the other reddish-flowered — 

 which climbed aloft against the tawa trunks, and, flowering amid 

 the higher branches, provided a supply of nectar at that season. 

 In such spots they lingered long ; and it was with feelings of regret 

 that one listened to the axes ringing in those stately groves, while 

 overhead the Bell-Birds, quite oblivious of their fate, continued 

 with many peals, until perhaps only a tree or two remained 

 unfelled. On the southern side, besides affecting the tawa patches 

 and scrubby parts, a fair number of pairs wintered in the second- 

 growth, where, like the Tui, they sang amid the vines, picking 

 their clustering fruit, and showing an especial liking for the many- 

 seeded berries of the poroporo — a plant which only flourished to 

 perfection there. In spring they were to be seen about the 

 lighter tawhera country, where many birds, their metallic 

 plumage flashing purple in some lights, darted about the trees, 

 and fed upon the nei-nei, then in flower. But wherever the 

 fuchsia flowered, in the damper tawa gullies and in the second- 

 growth, the bird was to be heard and seen throughout the season. 



To the writer it appeared a somewhat timid bird, and had a 

 skulking style when feeding in the scrub. Although one was never 

 seen to be captured, it lives in constant dread of the Bush-Hawk, 

 and was often seen, after the manner of the introduced Blackbird 

 (Turd us merula), dashing round the trees in its haste to reach 

 some more leafy shelter-tree. But its manners improved when, 

 in the spring, it visited the many flowering trees, being then in 

 better song, and knowingly allowed a closer view. As pairs they 

 keep much nearer to each other than the Tuis do, and are also 

 more active when foraging in the trees When searching for 

 insects it moves more quickly, and when after nectar has not the 

 easy grace of the latter bird. Nor does it dwell so long at each 

 blossom, but sips from each in rapid style, climbing about the 

 branches and clinging in many pretty poises among the flowers, 

 while its wings sound sharply as it flies from branch to branch in 

 eager activeness. 



In the sj)ring some vice is shown, and it has been seen to fly at 

 an inoffensive Pigeon resting in the tree in which the Bell-Bird 

 fed ; and in the nei-nei scrub one day a Shining Cuckoo could 



