THE NORTH ISLAND CROW 67 



The North Island crow was onee common on all the ranges of 

 the forests; but it now frequents only the higher ranges, away 

 from human habitations, where it appears at the end of April 

 and stays till September. It is confined to the North Island. 

 The male and the female have the same call, consisting of two 

 notes, like " vio ;"but the song of the male consists of five pleasant 



New Zealand Crows. 



notes, like "vio, ku, ku, ku, " which seem to be near, even when 

 the bird is a considerable distance away. Though these birds are 

 very tame, they hide in the thick trees when approached, and at 

 intervals peep through the branches to see if the intruder has 

 disappeared. When satisfied in this respect, they begin to 

 whistle. If disturbed a second time, they will seek cover with 

 marvellous swiftness, hopping through the branches from one 

 tree to another. If their call is imitated, they will sometimes 

 come hopping along, so near that a person may ahnost touch 

 them. In October, they retreat to their thickly-wooded gullies 

 between the higher ranges, where they breed, and where they 

 are not often seen. It is thought that they breed twice a year, and 

 have two or three young each time. A description of a nest states 



