526 Mr. J. C. MeLean on some 
some hours before the storm broke. In spring they were to 
be seen scattered singly through the bush and were then 
not so plentiful as in winter. 
During winter, the Kaka is sometimes seen in the bushes 
of the open country or passing, with discordant screams, 
high overhead. 
7. CHALCOCOCCYX LUCIDUS. 
Chrysococcyx lucidus Buller, B. New Zeal. i. pts. iv.-vi. 
p- 182, pl. 1. (1888). 
The Shining Cuckoo was first heard in heavy Tawa-bush 
on October 5th at 6 a.m., and the long-drawn whistling 
notes of another were audible a few hours later in the 
nei-nei scrub. It was heard occasionally during the re- 
mainder of my stay *. 
This bird was not so common in our bush as it is in the 
open country, where it is especially noticeable in late 
summer in the vicinity of open creeks and _ river-flats, 
wherever the Kowhai is abundant. This tree harbours a 
species of caterpillar on which the Cuckoo becomes ex- 
cessively fat ere it leaves the Colony in March on its long 
flight to more northern lands. 
8. Miro avusrratis. (Text-fig. 31, p. 527.) 
Miro australis Buller, B. New Zeal. i. pt. 11. p. 33, pl. 1. 
(1887); McLean, Ibis, 1892, p. 251: 
os s : - Maungahaumia, 2000 ft., May 18, 1906. 
A pair shot in company in open scrub. Iris brown; bill 
black, brownish at the base; tarsus brownish horn-coloured ; 
soles of feet bright yellow in @, dirty yellow in 9. Length 
in the flesh: No. 129 6:5, No. 128 6:3 inches. 
The Robin was common in the particular class of bush it 
affected, but was never seen in the Tawa nor in the birch. 
lt is only found in scrubby bush, which must be free from 
* BLudynamis taitensis (the Long-tailed Cuckoo) was not seen, and 
probably had not arrived when I left on October 14th, but a survey- 
party found it fairly abundant, from early November onwards, in the 
adjoining bush, 
