OF NEW ZEALAND, 
61 
fowls, except when much pressed by hunger. 
This bird, though to appearance large, is actually 
very small, and is remarkably lanky in its body* 
The sinews are so strong, as almost to resist, or 
to blunt, the edge of a good knife. 
Tatariki — A small brown bird, with a white 
head, short black beak, black legs, and brown 
feet with four claws. It resembles the tom-tit in 
shape ; sings sweetly ; but altogether ceases its 
song during the three winter months. It lays 
three spotted eggs, feeds upon small insects, and 
inhabits the most retired parts of the wood ; and 
is scarcely ever seen for more than an hour, after 
the rising of the sun. 
Hum— This bird is found only in the moun- 
tainous districts of Taranaki, and farther south 
than Waiapu or the East Cape. It is a black bird, 
about the size of a nightingale, with long slender 
yellowish legs and feet. The plumage is of a 
glossy black, and very fine: it has, for its tail, 
four long broad black feathers, tipped with white 
at the extremity, which gives it a very lively 
appearance : these feathers are much valued by 
the natives, and are sent as presents to the natives 
of the Bay of Islands, to ornament their hair on 
grand occasions, or when going out to battle. The 
most remarkable feature in the appearance of this 
bird is the form of its beak, which is slender, 
and resolves itself into an exact semicircle. It 
resides in deep long grass : its food is worms and 
insects, with a small berry called ponga. After 
