A-Niong this group of birds the 
Foe Bird, or Tue, or e Parson 
Bird, § is one of the most con- 
spicuous, being nearly as remark- 
able for its peculiar colouring as 
the rifle bird itself, although the 
hues of the feathers are not quite 
so resplendently brilliant as in 
that creature. 
The Poe Bird is a native of 
New Zealand, where it is far from 
uncommon, and is captured by the 
natives for the purpose of sale. 
Many Individuals are brought 
over to Sydney, where, according 
to Dr. Bennett, they are kept in 
cages, and are very amusing in 
their habits, being easily do- 
mesticated and becoming very 
familiar with those who belong to 
the household. Independently 
of its handsome and rather pe- 
culiar colour, which make it very 
effective in a room, it possesses 
several other qualifications which 
render it a very desirable inha- 
bitant of an aviary. Its native 
notes are very rich, the bird being 
considered a remarkably fine 
songster, and it also possesses the 
power of mimicking in a degree 
surpassing that of the common 
magpie or raven, and hardly 
yielding even to the famous 
mocking-bird himself. It learns 
to speak with great accuracy and fluency, and imitates any sound that may reach 
its ear, being especially successful in its reproduction of the song of other birds. 
While at liberty in its native land it is remarkable for its quick, restless 
activity, as it flits rapidly about the branches, pecking here and there at a stray 
insect, diving into the recesses of a newly opened flower, and continually uttering 
its shrill sharp whistle. 
POE BIRD . — Prosthemadera Nov <2 
Zeeidndice. 
66 
