8 



Besides the prolonged shrill note which is generally uttered on the wing, this species has also 

 a low peevish cry, exactly like the squealing of a young pig, which is peculiar, I believe, to the 

 breeding-season. 



It is well known that birds are good natural barometers. The height to which they rise in 

 the air renders them susceptible to the slightest change in the temperature of the atmosphere ; and 

 they are thus warned of approaching changes in the weather. Thus the continuous screaming of 

 the Bush-Hawk is understood by the natives to be a sure indication of change ; and they have a 

 common saying, " Ka tangi te Karearea &c." (If the Karearea screams in fine weather, 'twill 

 soon rain ; if in rainy weather, 'tis about to clear). Wilson, the American ornithologist, in treating 

 of the Fish-Hawk (Pandion haliaetus), states that when these birds are seen sailing high in air, 

 with loud vociferations, " it is universally believed to prognosticate a change of weather, often a 



thunderstorm in a few hours On the faith of the certainty of these signs, the experienced 



coaster wisely prepares for the expected storm, and is rarely mistaken." I have met with some 

 remarkable instances of this unerring instinct in the species under consideration, and this, at times, 

 when the glass gave no indication of a coming change. 



The Bush-Hawk is generally met with on the outskirts of the woods or among the dead 

 timber of native " Wairengas," these localities being favourable for mice, on which it largely sub- 

 sists. I once observed a young male of this species playing in the air with mice, after the manner 

 of a cat ; and the sight was as pretty as it was novel. When I first observed the bird, he was 

 perched on the naked limb of a tree, apparently engaged in examining his quarry. Then mount- 

 ing in the air with a mouse in each of his talons, and expanding his wings and tail to their full 

 extent, he dropped first one mouse and then the other, and instantly darted after them, catching 

 them in his talons before they reached the ground, then mounting high in the air again to renew 

 the feat. Ultimately losing one of the mice, he discontinued his play, and, returning to the tree, 

 killed and devoured the remaining one. 



The natives state that this little Hawk usually builds its nest in a bunch of Puwharawhara, 

 often at a great elevation from the ground, forming it rudely of loose materials — that it lays 

 generally two, but sometimes three eggs — and that the young birds remain on the tree for several 

 days after quitting the nest. The Puwharawhara (Astelia cunninghamii) is a parasitical plant, 

 with short, thickly set flag leaves, radiating upwards from a clump of roots by which it adheres 

 firmly to the parent tree. These plants, which often attain a circumference of many feet, arc 

 very common on the forks and naked branches of aged or withered trees on the outskirts of the 

 forest, a single tree sometimes supporting twenty or more of them. A better situation for a 

 Hawk's-nest than the centre of one of these plants could hardly be selected, combining, as it 

 does the requisites of warmth, security, and shelter; and the Bush-Hawk seems to be instinctively 

 aware of this. Some years ago I was informed that a pair of these birds had bred for several 

 successive seasons in a nest placed as described, and situated in the high fork of a dead 

 Kahikatea tree near the Horowhenua Lake. Having waited for the breeding-season, I offered 

 the natives a half-sovereign each for the eggs ; but, although excellent climbers, they failed in all 

 their attempts to reach the nest. They afterwards observed the Hawks carrying mice, lizards, 

 and small birds to their young ; and the latter, on quitting the nest, were shot and destroyed. 

 When I last visited the spot the old Kahikatea was still standing, and the bunch of withered 



