OF NEW ZEALAND. 
55 
together in the same hole, one male and two 
females ; and during the season of incubation, the 
nests, though separated, are so close together, 
that either of the mother-birds can sit upon the 
eggs, feed their neighbour's young, and cover 
them with one of her wings, without leaving her 
own nest, or neglecting her own offspring. The 
cry of this bird, when ranging at large in the 
woods, is harsh and disagreeable in the extreme. 
The Kolcorimako is about the size of the sparrow, 
with a small, oblong, dark eye ; plumage, a dark 
brown, tinged with green ; with a long beak, gra- 
dually coming to a sharp point, and a little curved 
in the middle. It has puce-coloured legs, a long 
forked tail, and strong wings. It lays seven eggs, 
spotted with blue, upon a brown ground ; has a 
remarkably shrill quick cry, Te te te te^ which it 
keeps up for some minutes without intermission. 
In the morning, it joins the other songsters of 
the wood. The male is larger, has brighter co- 
lours, and more green in its plumage, than the 
female. 
Tataiato — A small bird about the size of the 
wren; its feathers very fine in texture, of a 
dusky brown colour ; the head and breast in- 
clining to white. It has a forked tail, long, and 
of a bright brown ; its eyes are small and pene- 
trating ; its beak, black, and very short ; its 
legs and feet like those of the goldfinch, only 
stronger in the claws. It feeds upon berries and 
fruits. 
