NATURAL HISTORY. 
619 
Fam. Gharadridoe. — The torea, {hoematopus picatus ,) a 
black shore bird with red legs and bill. C. obscurus ; G. 
frontalis. The liar or o, a black and white shore gull, seizes 
the shell fish it preys on, carries it up in the air, and 
then drops it, in order to break the shell and obtain the 
food. 
Fam. Ardeidce. — Matalcu urepo , ( bataurus melanotus.) The 
bittern is very generally spread over the whole of New Zea- 
land ; it is of a buff color, with brown spots, and lighter under 
the breast ; it utters three hollow sounds, and then ceases for 
a short period before it commences again. When it stands 
at rest or sleeps, it elevates its bill to the heavens, which 
gives it a very singular appearance. 
The mataku ( ardea mataku) is a bright ash color. The 
top of the head is covered with slight bristles, and the back of 
the skull is of a red color, perfectly bald ; its neck and legs 
are long. The female lays two eggs of a pale blue color, 
about the size of a turkey's egg; it is a very shy bird, and 
seldom seen ; flies gracefully, with its long legs stretched out 
like a tail. 
Kotuku , ( ardea flavirostris ,) the white crane ; a beautiful 
but rare bird; it has a yellow bill, and dark green legs. 
Though sufficiently abundant in the Southern Island, it is 
seldom seen in the Northern, so that there is a saying, hotahi 
ano te rerenga o te kotuku , that is, a man only sees the white 
crane once in his lifetime. It is more abundant in the Middle 
Island. 
Fam. Scolopacidoe. — Tarapunga , ( himantopus Novce Zeal :) 
a white-breasted bird, wings, back, and head black, red bill 
slightly curved upwards, with long red legs ; it is found on 
the Taupo lake, but not further north. 
Fam. Anatidce. — Parer a, turuki, [anas superciliosa ,) the 
duck, very similar to the wild duck of England. Those in 
the interior appear to be of a larger kind. 
Putangitangi , ( casarca rariegata,) the paradise duck ; this 
fine bird is confined to the southern part of the Northern 
Island, but is very abundant in the Middle Island ; the colors 
of this bird are very distinct, the breast white, and the wings 
