NATURAL HISTORY. 
403 
Fam. Luscinidce. —The matata, or koroatito (sphenceacus ? 
punctatus ). It is a small dark brown bird, with a white and 
brown spotted breast; it has four long and four short tail fea¬ 
thers, similar in structure to those of the emu and kiwi ; it is a 
swamp bird, flies low, and for a very short distance, amongst the 
rushes and fern, with a long shrill cry; and is easily killed 
with a stick. Formerly, it was a sacred bird, and offered in 
sacrifice when a party returned unsuccessful from the war. 
Riro riro, the wren. This most diminutive bird is of a 
greyish yellow color ; the male has a dark blue crest; it is 
very tame. 
Fam. Turdidce .—The piopio (turnagra crassirostris), a bird 
about the size of a thrush, with a short thick bill, red tail, 
yellow breast, and brown back. It is a bird of passage from 
the south. Piopio wirunga nqa tau ho Matatua te waka. 
The piopio came on the bow of the Matatua, one of the 
original canoes, from Hawaiki, so says the proverb. 
Fam. Muscicapidce.—Piwalca waka, tirakaraka, the fan¬ 
tailed fly catcher, a pretty little restless lively bird; very 
sociable, and fond of displaying its beautiful little fan-tail. It 
has a head like the bullfinch, with one black and white streak 
under the neck, coming to a point in the centre of the throat. 
Its wings are very sharp and pointed. It is very quick and 
expert in catching flies, and is a great favorite, as it generally 
follows the steps of man. It was sacred to Maui. 
Miromiro, (vniro albifrons.) A little black and white bird, 
with a large head; it is very tame, and has a short melan¬ 
choly song; it generally flies about graves and solitary bushes. 
The rniro toitoi, {uiuscipeta toitoi ,) or the ngirungiru, is a bird 
not larger than the tom-tit. Its plumage is black and white, 
having a white breast, and some of the near feathers of each 
wing tinged with white. 
Fam. Corvidae. —The Icokako, or New Zealand crow; it 
is about the size of a small pullet, with long legs, and 
remarkably short wings; its eye is of a lavender colour; 
the head is very small. It has a strong black beak, a little 
curved, and a small brilliant light-blue flap hanging down 
on each side the ear. It is a sly bird, very thievish, and 
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