12 CASSELL'S BOOK OF BIRDS. 



every part, extracting the pollen and insects, in searching for which it clings to and hangs about 

 the blossoms in every variety of position. The breeding season commences in September, and lasts 

 for three months. The very small nest is round in shape, open at the top, and formed of delicate 

 twigs and fibres. This pretty little structure is usually placed in the fork of a branch, at the height of 

 a few feet from the ground. The two or three eggs are bright red, spotted slightly with dark brown ; 

 these markings are most numerous at the broad end." 



THE POE, OR TUI. 

 The PoE, or Tui {Prosthemadcra circinata), is readily distinguished by the two remarkable tufts 

 of feathers that decorate each side of the throat ; in other respects its formation closely resembles that 

 of its congeners. The coloration of the plumage is principally of a deep metallic green, which 

 appears black in some lights, and in others shines like bronze. The back is umher-brown, but 

 glistens with the same varj'ing shades. A white hne passes over the shoulders, and the long feathers 

 on the nape are enlivened by white streaks upon the shafts. The strange tufts on the sides of the 

 throat to which we have alluded are pure white, and form a dazzling contrast to the dark plumage by 

 which they are surrounded. The belly is deep umber-brown ; the quills and tail-feathers black, very 

 glossy and resplendent above, and quite lustreless on the lower side. This species is twelve inches long. 

 The wing measures five inches and a half, and the tail four inches and a half Layard tells us that of 

 all the feathered inhabitants of the New Zealand forests the Poe is most certain to attract the notice 

 of the traveller, as it flutters noisily from branch to branch, or sails in airy circles over the tree tops. 

 It is not uncommon to see eight or ten of these birds at a time turning somersaults as they circle 

 after each other, or rise and sink with outspread wings and tail, until at last they return to seek 

 repose after their gambols under the sheltering branches of the trees. The Poe has been frequently 

 described as the most wonderful of songsters, and some writers have gone so far as to declare that its 

 performance far exceeds that of the Nightingale, both in beauty of tone and clearness of execution. 

 Such accounts as these are, in our opinion, much exaggerated, though we admit that it certainly 

 ranks with the finest songsters inhabiting Australia. The food of the Poe, we are told, consists of 

 insects, in search of which it exhibits a very restless activity. It also devours berries and earth- 

 worms. This species possesses a most wonderful talent for imitating the notes of all the feathered 

 inhabitants of the woods ; hence it is sometimes called the Mocking Bird. In confinement it also 

 learns to mimic other sounds, such as the noises of dogs, cats, or poultry, and readily pronounces 

 long sentences wth great correctness. 



The FRIAR BIRDS (Tropidorhy7icus) are recognisable from all their congeners by a knob at 

 the base of the upper mandible, a bare place on the head and throat, and the long feathers that adorn 

 the nape or breast. The tongue is provided at its extremity with a double brush-like appendage. 



THE "LEATHERHEAD." 

 The " Leatherhead " {Tropidorhyncus corniculatus) is greyish brown on the back and brownish 

 grey upon the under side, a long lancet-shaped feather on the breast, and the chin-feathers, are of a 

 pure glossy white, delicately spotted with brown ; the tail is tipped with white. The eye is red, but 

 turns brown after death ; the beak, and some bare places on the head, are of silky blackness, and the 

 feet lead-grey. The female is smaller than her mate, and the young are distinguishable from the 

 adult birds by the inferior size of the knob on the beak and of the breast-feathers ; the bare places on 

 the head are also smaller. This species is about twelve inches long, the wing measures five inches 

 and three-quarters, and the tail four inches and two-thirds. 



