532 Mr. J. C. McLean on some 
In winter the Whitehead’s notes are mostly short and 
harsh, but in spring the male makes many low warbling sounds 
besides the half-a-dozen of his tinkling trill. The food 
consists chiefly of imsects, but the birds are also very fond 
of the seeds of various trees. The Tawari (Iverba breavioides) 
was in full fruit during the winter, and on the birch-ridge, 
where nearly half the vegetation consists of this handsome 
tree, the Whiteheads were very numerous, feeding on the 
shining black seeds of the opening pods. 
The pert and inquisitive Whitehead is the “ rowdy” of 
the bush and seems ever anxious to draw a crowd. It is 
very severe on the Morepork (Ninox nove-zealandie), 
which it appears to hunt up out of pure mischief, and woe 
betide the unfortunate Owl disturbed from its retreat by a 
falling tree. 
An imitation of the cry or a sharp whistle will quickly 
bring the flock near, and such a hubbub ensues that all 
small birds within hearing are soon collected about the 
intruder, but this crowd soon disperses. 
Creadion carunculatus and Certhiparus nove-zealandie have 
been noted * as following the flocks of Clitonyx ochrocephala 
(the South Island representative); and here, on the birch- 
ridges, I found Cyanorhamphus auriceps invariably accompany- 
ing the winter flocks of C. albicapilla, Besides the Parroquets, 
Blight-birds, Fantails, and Warblers—one, or other, or 
all—were sometimes im attendance. The Whiteheads keep 
more forward in the lower tops, hunting methodically and 
with afew harsh notes; over them, in the highest part of the 
trees, are several Parroquets acting as scouts, with hesitating 
style and chattering softly ; a few Blight-birds are calling 
close on the heels of the Whiteheads; a Fantail or two 
plays carelessly about the wing, while an odd silent Warbler 
is busy among disturbed insects. Such was the composition 
of these flocks on most occasions and always so when, in 
fine weather and with great regularity, the morning 
movement took place past our camp about an hour after 
sunrise. 
* Birds of New Zeal. 2nd, edit. vol. i. pp. 20 & 52. 
