GENUS NEOMORPHA (Gould). 



NO member of this genus is found in Australia, the only species known being confined to New 

 Zealand. 



NEOMORPHA GOULDII (G. r. Gray). 



IIUJA. 



T Ml LIS very curious bird is now found only in the neighbourhood of Port Nicholson, in New Zealand, 

 -L and even there is almost extinct. It was formerly used by the natives as food, but now is 

 procured for the sake of the tail feathers, which are used as a head-dress by the chiefs. 



The Maoris obtain them by uttering a shrill whistle, which brings the birds so close to them 

 that they can be knocked down with sticks. 



The food consists of seeds and insects of various kinds. 



The sexes differ in the size and shape of the bill, a difference which caused Gould to consider 

 them as different species. 



The whole of the plumage is black, glossed with green, the tail tipped with white ; bill, horn- 

 colour, darker at the base ; wattles, rich orange ; legs and feet, blackish horn-colour ; irides, light brown. 



Habitat : New Zealand. 



