BIRDS 
64 
Kohako ; called, by some, the New-Zealand 
crow. Its plumage is a very dark green, not 
much varied in any part of the body : the legs 
are black and coarse, with long claws on each 
foot. It has a strong black beak, a little curved ; 
and a small brilliant light-blue flap hanging down 
on each side, from the ear. The moment the 
bird dies, the colour of these flaps fades, and be- 
comes of nearly the same hue as its plumage. 
The habits of the bird are decidedly those of the 
crow. It is very sly and thievish, and is at the 
same time particularly shy and timid. It is 
found, in the greatest numbers, in the woods on 
the banks of the Thames. Its flesh is bitter and 
unsavory ; but is palatable when the skin has 
been taken off, before it is dressed. 
Pipiwawaroa — This is a bird of passage, and is 
supposed to come from the islands north of New 
Zealand; though the natives assure us that it 
retires in winter into the holes of trees, or into 
the crevices of the rocks, and does not fly away 
for winter-quarters to other and warmer climes. 
It only remains here during about three months 
of the high summer. It is a small bird, of very 
beautiful plumage, in almost every variety: 
green, white, purple aiid gold are, however, the 
prevailing colours : the feathers under the tail are 
white, spotted with brown : those on the breast 
and throat are marked with broad lines of white 
and deep brown ; and the wings are a very deli- 
cate purple, tinged with gold. The eye is a 
