Sydney Porter—Notes on New Zealand Birds



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males. The call note is very mournful and only uttered in the early

morning and at sundown. To my whistled imitation they always

respond.


I am in great hopes of rearing youngsters and I feel this will not

be difficult. The Eed-ear impresses me by its extreme hardiness.

The three deaths before mentioned were two on arrival at the railway

station, the other dying in South Australia after a very long journey.

Eight presumed pairs I have forwarded to Germany, and I await

with interest news of their arrival. I feel sure, knowing them as I do,

that they will arrive in good condition.


Their habitat here is the coldest spot in Western Australia, and

I feel sure they would do well in England. I might add that they

definitely have never been allowed hemp in any shape or form as my

Finch experience has taught me not to use this seed. Mealworms,

gentles, and the like, have never been supplied, and I am convinced

Red-ears are not dependent on insect food.



NOTES ON NEW ZEALAND BIRDS


By Sydney Porter

{Continued from page 379)


The lovely fairy-like Pied Fantail (Rhipidura flabellifera ), one of

the commonest of New Zealand’s endemic birds, is beloved by every

resident who has ever made its acquaintance. It is hard to imagine

a more dainty, more ethereal, atom of feathered life than the Fantail.


It is utterly fearless and if called by imitating its note will come

within a few inches of one, or perhaps perch on one’s arm or head.

It moves through the forest with the most careless abandon, appearing

to be blown from branch to branch or tree to tree, so light and fairy¬

like is its flight. No thistledown borne by the wind moves more lightly

or gracefully than this bird. The air seems to offer no resistance to it.

The beautiful fan-like tail, so large as to be quite out of proportion

to the size of the owner, is usually spread to its full extent and carried

at right-angles to the body.


The feathers are puffed out and the wings spread as the bird moves



