The Zoologist — September, 1874. 4147 



abundance of lizards. The cries of birds in several cases appear 

 to be more or less dependent upon atmospheric changes. At such 

 times gulls become vociferous, restless, soaring aloft with rapid 

 unsteady course, and wekas are very noisy ; on the other hand, 

 many species are silenced altogether by bad weather. The thrush, 

 of many notes, utters some so like those of other birds as to become 

 rather puzzling, should one try to fix on the unseen performer. 

 The flute-like mellow pipe of the wattle-bird {Callwas) is unrivalled 

 for its sweetness. The little creeper {AcaniJiisitta) never moves 

 without emitting its liny twitter. The kingfisher is generally silent, 

 except during the breeding season, or its note is used to intimidate, 

 either in attempting to seize a post already occupied by one of its 

 kind or when defending its position from an attempted intrusion ; 

 thus our halcyon differs in habit from the kingfisher of the old 

 country, which is said to utter its cry whenever it takes wing. 



Notwithstanding the gush of song which in summer-tide salutes 

 the cool dawn before the rosy hues have fired the eastern sky, 

 many of our little melodists retire late to rest, such as Anthornis, 

 Petroica, Gerygoue and Zosterops, and their lingering notes may 

 be heard long after sundown. 



Often is observation made upon the readiness with which some 

 species of our native birds learn to imitate the human voice, an 

 accomplishment which is also popular; yet, as an exhibition, the 

 result of long practice and frequent repetitions, I am inclined to 

 place it in the same category as a man's imitation of the crowing 

 of a cock. I have known a grave senator mimic "the cock's shrill 

 clarion" well enough to threaten the harmony of a farm-yard. 

 Some persecuting enthusiasts find that the kaka, parakeet 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 gull has been more 

 than once mentioned. On the mud-flats or sand-banks, 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 dis- 

 cussion takes place, very often received by the auditory with mild 

 barks that might well pass for applause or "loud and continued 

 cheers." This habit, not confined to the large gull, is also possessed 

 by the smaller species, tara-punga, although the latter is less noisy. 

 The terns, too, meet in parliament on the shore; and a solemn 



