CREEPER, 



735 



i«. Muf. MOCKING 



CR. 



T ENGTH feven inches and a quarter : fize of the lefTer Description* 



Thrufh. Bill fomewhat bent, (lender, long, and dufky ; nof- 

 trils large, and covered with a membrane : tongue fharp, penicil- 

 liform at the tip : irides hazel : on the cheeks a narrow white 

 fpot : the head, efpecially on the crown, inclined to violet : the 

 plumage in general is olive green, inclining to yellow on the 

 under parts : the quills are brown : the fecondaries edged with 

 olive : the colour of the tail like that of the fecondaries, and 

 fomewhat forked : legs dufky blue: claws black; the hind one 

 the longeft. 



Inhabits both the iflands of New Zealand. It has an agreeable Place and 

 note in general; but at times fo varies and modulates the voice, Manners, 

 that it feems to imitate the notes of all other birds ; hence it was 

 called by the Englifh the Mocking-bird, 



The fpecimen in the Leverian Mufeum has no red on the head, 

 Which is thus accounted for : — This bird being fond of thrufting 

 its head into the bofom of flowers which have a purplifh-coloured 

 farina, much of it adheres to the feathers about the head and bill, 

 and in courfe gives the appearance above mentioned; but this in. 

 time rubs off, and the colour of the head appears the fame with the 

 reft of the plumage. 



Gerthia- 



