MB. T. IT. POTTS ON KEROPIA CRASSTROSTRIS. 507 



son (well acquainted with birds' notes and calls) were frequently- 

 deceived, and have looked for a Red-bill till the Piopio disclosed 

 himself by fluttering from bush to bush. 



Its common song seems to be near akin to that of the Lark 

 (Anthns Novce Zealandice) ; it sounds two preludatory notes, then 

 tinkles off a very brief song. When joyously flying in pursuit of 

 the female, it utters a quick chi, chi, chit, chi, chi, chit. It marks 

 its displeasure, or tries to intimidate intruders that approach 

 its nest with a low purring churrr ; both cock and hen join jn 

 this cry of anger. "When singing, the effort is marked by the 

 tail being spread, the wings held not quite close ; the feathers of 

 the breast and back are not raised, as in the case of the Bell- 

 bird and some other arboreals. 



We have called this Piopio a philosopher ; he has quite as good 

 a claim as many a biped to whom that title is accorded. "Who 

 doubts this, let him try to have some knowledge of this bird w T ith 

 the thick bill, not merely a know-him-by-sight acquaintance, but 

 such a one as ripens into friendly intimacy ; the result will be 

 to know a bird that takes the world as it is, not fanciful as to the 

 kind of food — that feeds with zest on insects when procurable, or 

 can make shift on seeds, fruits, or even grasses — that neither 

 courts nor avoids observation, is as bold as the Eobin or Tit, 

 without their intrusiveness — that in the presence of strangers 

 coolly pursues its occupation without the prying of the Brown 

 Creeper or the w r atchful distrust of the Popoketea — that defends 

 his home with almost the courage of the Falcon or Tern. 



It seems to delight in those openings which are found in river- 

 beds, between long belts of tutu and other scrub ; there it may be 

 observed either hopping along the ground or fluttering about the 

 lower sprays of shrubs, flying out to the spits of sand or drifted 

 trees that lie stranded in the river ; on some of the larger spits 

 that are becoming clothed with vegetation it searches amongst 

 the burry Accena, snips off the fruit-stalks of moss, picking the 

 seeds of some trailing Veronica. 



Its progress on the ground is usually deliberate ; it hops with 

 both feet together, a slight flutter of the wings, a flirt of the tail 

 accompanying each motion. When approached too closely, it 

 leaves its perch by always descending at first, as though safer 

 when near or on the ground ; if it would rise on the wing, a mo- 

 mentum is gained by a succession of hops. In some of its habits 

 one is reminded pretty often of the Wattle-bird (Callceas) Its 



