NATURAL HISTORY. 
401 
most of the kangaroo. The natives highly prize the skin, 
which is an article of barter. This bird is chiefly found to the 
south of the Ruahine mountains, in the North Island, especially 
on the Tararua range, and the natives send the skins to the 
north carefully packed between pieces of bark. They receive 
sharks’ teeth in return. A good skin is valued at one pound. 
The following are honey-birds :— 
The tui, koko, ( Prosthemadera, Novce Zeal:). Cook named 
this beautiful and lively bird, the parson and mocking bird. It 
acquired the first name from its having two remarkable white 
feathers on the neck, like a pair of clergyman’s bands ; and the 
latter from its facility in imitating sounds. Though not of gaudy 
colors, there is something very chaste and elegant in its plumage. 
It is of a black bronzed color, with delicate white hair feathers 
round the neck; it is a sweet songster, and full of activity, 
incessantly flying up and down, and uttering its varied and 
joyous notes. In the spring it may be seen in the yellow 
kowai trees, brushing out the pollen from the flowers with the 
greatest rapidity. When tamed, it readily imitates every kind 
of sound, and soon forms an attachment with any one who 
notices it, so that it is a general favorite. 
The tui becomes extremely fat in winter; it is then caught 
in great numbers by snares; but in that season it is also taken 
by marking its place of roost on a frosty night; in the morning 
its legs and wings are so benumbed with cold, that it is easily 
shaken from its perch, which it has not strength to leave 
before the sun warms its half-frozen body; this seems to 
prove that the climate has become colder than it was formerly. 
When the tui becomes so extremely fat as to be uncomfort¬ 
able to itself, it is said to peck its breast, and thus cause the 
oil to exude, which completely saturates its feathers; this 
it appears to do to lighten itself, when caught it is found 
covered with the marks of its peckings, and thence acquires 
the name of koko, or pecking. 
The tui is said to breed three times in the year; it begins 
in September, or early spring, and then lays three eggs ; in 
December it lays five eggs; and in March, or autumn, it has 
six or seven, of a pure white color. It takes little more than 
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