158 
Sprightly in its actions, eminently social, and more noisy than any other inhabitant of the woods, 
the Kaha holds a prominent place among our native birds. Being semi-nocturnal m its habits, it 
generally remains quiet and concealed during the heat of the day. . If, however, the sportsman 
should happen to find a stray one, and to wound instead of killing it, its cries of distress will imme- 
diatelv rouse the whole fraternity from their slumbers, and all the Kakas within hearing will come 
to the rescue and make the forest echo with their discordant screams. Unless, however, disturbed 
by some exciting cause of this sort, they remain in close cover till the approach of the cooler hours: 
then they come forth with noisy clamour, and may be seen, far above the tree-tops, winging their 
way to some favourite feeding-place ; or they may be observed climbing up the rough vine-clad boles 
of the trees, freely using their powerful mandibles, and assuming every variety of attitude, or dili- 
gently tearing open the dead roots of the close epiphytic vegetation in their eager search for insects 
and their lame. In the spring, and summer, when the woods are full of wild blossom and berry, 
these birds have a prodigality of food, and may be seen alternately filling their ciops with a vaiiety 
of juicy berries, or sucking nectar from the crimson flowers of the rata (Metrosideros robusta-z 
flowering branch of which is depicted in the Plate) by means of their brush-fringed tongues 
With the earliest streaks of dawn, and while the underwoods are still wrapped in darkness, the 
wild cry of this bird breaks upon the ear with a strange effect. It is the sound that wakes the weary 
traveller encamped in the bush ; and the announcement of his ever active Maori attendant, “ Rua 
tangi te Kaka,” is an intimation that it is time to be astir. But although habitually recluse during 
the^day, it is not always so. During gloomy weather it is often very active ; and, sometimes, even 
in the bright sunshine a score of them may be seen together, flying and circling about, high above 
the trees uttering their loud screams and apparently bent on convivial amusement. When the 
shades of evening bring a deeper gloom into the depths of the forest, and all sounds are hushed, 
save the low hoot of the waking Morepork, or the occasional cheep-cheep of the startled Robin, the 
Kaka becomes more animated. It may then be heard calling to its fellows in a harsh rasping note, 
something like the syllables “ t-chrut, t-chrut;’ or indulging in a clear musical whistle with a short 
refrain. . 
It is strictly arboreal in its habits, and subsists to a large extent on insects and their larvae, so 
that it is probably one of our most useful species. Where they exist in large numbers, they must 
act very beneficially on the timber-forests ; for in the domain of nature important results aie often 
produced by apparently trivial agencies. Like all the honey-eaters, while supplying their own wants, 
they do good service with their brush-tongues, by fertilizing the blossoms of various trees, and thus 
assisting in their propagation ; while, on the other hand, the diligent search they prosecute foi 
insects and grubs, and the countless numbers daily consumed by each individual, must materially 
affect the economy of the native woods. 
1 am aware that in some parts of the country there is a prejudice against the Kaka on account 
of its alleged injury to forest trees by barking them ; but this animus is quite undeserved *. On the 
* Against this unmerited charge the Kaka is well defended by Mr. Potts, who writes “ Although so often accused of 
iniuring trees by stripping down the hark, from careful observation we do not believe a flourishing tree is ever damaged by its 
beak. It is the apparently vigorous, but really unsound tree that is attacked, already doomed by the presence of countless 
multitudes of insects, of many varieties, of which it is at once the food and refuge, either in their perfect or larval state. In 
the persevering and laborious pursuit of this favourite food, the Kaka, doubtless, lends his assistance in hastening the fall of 
decaying trees ; the loosened strips of bark dissevered admit to the exposed wood rain and moisture collected from dews and 
mists to he dried by evaporation by the heat of the sun, by the desiccating winds, only to become saturated again. Under this 
alternation the insidious fungi take root, decay rapidly sets in, the close-grained timber gives place to a soft spongy texture, 
branches drop off, and gradually the once noble-looking tree succumbs to its fate : but its gradual decay and fall, the work of 
years has proved beneficial to the surrounding plants ; the dropping of the branches admits light and air to the aspiring saplings, 
assists in checking the undue spread of lichens and epiphytes ; and when the old stem falls, tottering down from its very rotten- 
ness, its place is supplied by vigorous successors.” 
