J. Cassidy—A Chat about the Tui of New Zealand



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more residential districts where they feed on the flowers of introduced

trees such as the blue gum and the fuchsia. On Stewart Island the

birds leave the middle of the islands and make for the coasts, says

Mr. Guthrie-Smith. Here, by the coasts, they breed, in spring.


Some reader may ask “ Why have you not yet given us a description

of the appearance of the Tui ? ” The reply to that question must be

that it was judged desirable first to interest you in the bird’s character

and vocal achievements to induce the inquiry as to its appearance

and habits.



The Appearance of the Tui


Under the brilliant light of a Hew Zealand sky on a fine day, the

general colour of the adult bird is a shining metallic green with bluish

purple reflections on the shoulders, upper tail coverts, and lower breast.

The hind neck is ornamented with filamentous plumes curving out¬

wards and with a white line down the centre ; back and scapulars are

bronzy brown ; marginal coverts blackish purple ; central coverts

with outer portion white, forming a conspicuous wing bar ; quills

and tail-feathers are black on their inner webs. The abdomen and sides

are reddish brown. Two tufts of filamentous curled feathers, white,

ornament the throat. The bill and the feet are brownish black.

Caught in a favourable light the green, purple, white, and black,

enhanced by the several tints of brown may be seen in contiguity, and

the whole appearance thus presented is fascinating.


The iris is a dark brown.


The length of the Tui is approximately sixteen and a half inches,

with seven and a half inches to the wing ; one inch to the bill; six

and a half inches to the tail and one and a half inches to the tarsus.


When the Tui is immature its prevailing tint is a blackish brown,

the median wing coverts are white and the quills and tail feathers of

a metallic green.


Eggs


The eggs are very attractive, they are pinkish white with small

pink spots and blotches chiefly at the larger end, they are in clutches

of four.



