404



Sydney Porter—Notes on New Zealand Birds



rapidly through the forest so that it looks bigger than it really is.

Nearly all its food is taken on the wing, and it was always the source

of the greatest delight to watch these charming feathered mites

performing the most wonderful evolutions in the air in their attempts

to catch minute moths and flies.


In spite of its familiarity it is not found round human habitations

unless they are near to the forest patches, for its habitat is not in

the open country, but in and around the indigenous “ Bush ”. Often

in a patch of native “ bush ” only a few hundred square yards in

extent several pairs of fantails will be found.


It is grievous enough to think of the disappearance of such birds

as the Huia, the native Thrushes, etc., but the loss of the Fantail

would indeed be a tragedy. But this I do not think will ever happen,

unless every vestige of native “ bush ” is burnt, although most people

seem to be doing their best to accomplish this.


On one of the Chicken Islands the Fantail was exceedingly abundant,

and at one time—when up a tree watching the Parrakeets drinking

at their water hole—I counted no less than twenty-four round at one

time ; the air seemed to be full of huge snow-flakes. These friendly

little creatures did not come around in a flock but drifted up in ones

and twos, not to drink, but merely to satisfy their curiosity as to who

the stranger was. I could certainly have caught them with my hand

had I desired.


It is impossible to convey to the mind of the reader anything of

the dainty charm of this friendly little bird. Only those who have

made its acquaintance know how it at once endears itself to every

heart when once seen in the forest glades. Its charm is far too ethereal

to be written down in black and white.


Sometimes when wandering in the lonely forests I have been met

by one of these beautiful birds and been accompanied by it for perhaps

half a mile or so, flitting around all the time within a foot or two,

the only sign of animation in the gloomy interior. Whether it is purely

inquisitiveness or just sheer friendliness I do not know. It would be

better to think it the latter.


One often sees the Fantails hawking for insects over the streams

and rivers, and I have frequently seen them picking minute forms of



