BIRDS 
66 
plants that grow on the branches of the tallest 
trees of the forest. Its food is the red berry of 
the Tarairi. 
The Takahikahi is nearly of the same size as 
the Tuturiwatu, with beak and legs precisely the 
same. It differs from it, however, in its plumage, 
and in its general habits. It has most beautifully 
spotted feathers — gold, light brown, and purple ; 
lives upon the sea-shore ; builds its nests among 
the thick branches of the lowest shrubs ; and feeds 
upon the seeds of sea-weeds, and of shrubs that 
grow near the beach. It has no song : but makes 
a noise somewhat like that of the pewit. 
Kotaretare— This bird is a species of the king- 
fisher ; but is much smaller, and not so beautiful 
in its plumage as birds of that class found in 
England. They are very plentiful in New Zea- 
land all the winter months ; but are not seen so 
much during the fine warm months of summer. 
It builds its nests in decayed trees, and never 
lays more than four eggs. During the season of 
incubation, the female is fed by the male, with 
live earth-worms, which he procures and brings 
to her. The beak is long, black on the upper 
side, and white on the lower. The head is large ; 
the legs and feet short and small. The plumage 
on the breast is white ; on the throat, spotted with 
brown : that upon the head is pale green, with a 
little dark green nearer the beak, and a circle of 
light brown round the eye. The back is covered 
with very fine feathers, of a dark puce colour ; 
