328 



PERCHING BIRDS. 



their treatment of the hu-hu. This grub, the larva of a large nocturnal beetle, 

 which constitutes their principal food, infests all decayed timber, attaining at 

 maturity the size of a man's little finger. Like all grubs of its kind, it is furnished 

 with a horned head and horny mandibles. On offering one of these to the huia, 

 he would seize it in the middle, and, at once transferring it to his perch, and placing 

 one foot firmly upon it, he would tear off the hard parts, and then, throwing the 

 grub upwards to secure it lengthwise in his bill, would swallow it whole. For the 



■'>■&* . * WIS if ^ m i 



1 



\\^®T" 



MALE AND FEMALE HUIAS (Jj nat, size). 



first few days these birds were comparatively quiet, remaining stationary on their 

 perch as soon as their hunger was appeased, but they afterwards became more lively 

 and active, indulging in play with each other, and seldom remaining more than a few 

 moments in one position. I sent to the woods for a small branched tree, and 

 placed it in the centre of the room, the floor of which was spread with sand and 

 gravel. It was most interesting to watch these graceful birds hopping from branch 

 to branch, occasionally spreading their tail into a broad fan, displaying themselves 

 in a variety of natural attitudes, and then meeting to caress each other with their 



