VOCAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SOME N.Z. BIRDS 367 



persevering enthusiasts find that the Ivaka. parrakeet. and tui are 

 the most apt to acquire this power of uttering sounds that bear 

 a fancied resemblance to words. 



In the foregoing notes, the voice of the large gnill has been 

 more than once mentioned. On the mudflats or sandbanks, when 

 a small flock of five or six of these birds are met together, after a 

 few deep toned barks or growls, they hold a regular "tangi," and 

 utter most dismal wails or yells, or what seems like a dialogue 

 or discussion takes place, very often received by the auditory with 

 mild barks that might well pass for applause, or "loud and con- 

 tinued cheers. ' ' This habit is not confined to the large gull, but 

 is also possessed by the smaller species, tara-pnnga, although 

 the latter is less noisy. The terns, too, meet in parliament on the 

 shore ; and a solemn conclave of oyster-catchers may sometimes 

 be noticed standing in unusual repose, at intei-^'als only uttering 

 a shrill pipe, and this when, close at hand, the godwits are working- 

 in their tripod fashion to extract a dainty morsel from the ooze. 



Attention has already been directed to the fact that, in the 

 alpine districts of New Zealand, the notes of the birds are pitched 

 in a higher and richer tone than in the valley, and in some of the 

 most elevated woods which the bell-bird frequents we have found 

 the note or brief song of the hen bird specially delightful. 

 Whence this result ? To the quality of its food being climatically 

 altered ? If we notice some of the fruits and berries from which 

 it derives some portion of its support, we shall find that the 

 blackberries of Aristotelia racemosa are represented in the alpine 

 fastnesses by those of A. fniticosa, the pulpy fniit of Coriaria 

 ruscifolia by that of C. thymifolia and 6'. angustissima, whilst 

 the drupes of Coprosma lucida and those of many other species 

 have their mountain representatives in C. cuneata, C. acerosa, C. 

 U)iariifolia, and others. Will the chemist tell us from analysing- 

 these fruits that this change is enough to cause some modification 

 in the muscular apparatus that modulates the tones issuing from 

 the s.^Tinx? The scientific ornithologist would admit no specific 

 difference after inspecting a score of skins ; for length of f eathers^ 

 colour of plumage, point out the bird as Melanura. 



