362 THE ANIMALS OF NEW ZEALAND 



he has snatched some bulky morsel. "What a vociferous outcry, 

 as half choked he strives to sridp it down ! His wings, not yet 

 close folded, he spreads again for flight. Attacked on all sides 

 by his clamorous fellows, he drops the envied lump, and instantly 

 joins the common flock in chase of the lucky bully that has swept 

 off the prize. The pursued now becomes the pursuer, and the 

 chase continues until some widely-distended throat at length 

 entombs the object of this fierce contention. Here the birds among 

 tliemselves. without man's interference, show, an amount of 

 boldness that appears remarkable; the air resounds with their 

 sonorous cries. Seldom, if ever, is the hunted bird struck by his 

 companions ; he yields his prey from fear, or drops it in the 

 attempt to obtain a fresh hold, and by another catch place it 

 more easily for swallowing. If lost from fear, can it be from 

 dread of the menacing blow that seldom, if ever, descends ? Has 

 the bird not instinct enough to appreciate the threatened attack 

 at its true value, judging from its o\^ti harmless bullying? 



On the mud flats at the head of the harbour, patched here and 

 there with a dwarf growth of zostera, and banks of time-bleached 

 shells, as the tide ebbs, flocks of godwits {Limosa novae- 

 zealandiae) arrive, and probe the yielding surface with their 

 long bills ; their call cannot be distinguished from that of their 

 European congener, although now and then a yelping sound is 

 emitted without any apparent cause, unless it is a note of satisfac- 

 tion, for they feed silently. Noisier, and far shriller in their notes 

 are the oyster-catchers, which feed in company, wade in the 

 shallow water, or course along the margin with swift splashing 

 run. When the pied stilts feed in numbers by the shores of Lake 

 EUesmere, their notes are constantly repeated, sounding not 

 unlike the barking of young dogs, whilst the oyster-catcher's 

 shrill note rather resembles the numing down of an alarum, in the 

 rapidity with which the sound is repeated. 



The call of the paradise duck {Casarca) is often heard in lofty 

 flight, bringing to mind the notes of the wild geese at Home. 

 Some fancy they can detect in the hoarse call of the paradise 

 drake the words "Hook it, hook it," as a hint to escape, whilst 

 the shriller cry of the duck inquiringly replies, "Where, where?" 



