404 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
timid. The flesh is bitter, hut when skinned and steeped in water 
a short time previous to cooking, it becomes more palatable. 
Fam. Sturnidce. — Tieki, (creadion carunculatus .) This is 
a beautiful black bird, with a chestnut band across the back 
and wings; it has also a fleshy lappet on either side the head. 
The tieki is considered a bird of omen: if one flies on the 
right side, it is a good sign; if on the left a bad one. 
Fam. j Fringillidee. — Pihoihoi, wioi kataitai, ( alauda , Novce 
Zeal .-) This little bird is very similar to the ground lark, but 
has no song. It is of a grey color, the breast white, with 
grey spots. It makes its nest on the ground, and greatly 
resembles its English namesake. 
Fam. Psittacidcc. —The kakariki, or pouwaitere, (platy- 
cercus Novce Zeal:) is a pretty light green parrot, with a band 
of red or yellow over the upper beak and under the throat. 
This elegant little bird is about the size of a small thrush ; it 
flies very fast, and has a very quick note: it is excellent 
eating. The one with red on the head, is called kakariki 
matua; the other with yellow, is called kakariki porere: 
they are different species. 
The kaka (nestor meridionalis). Its general color is a 
dark brown, with a reddish shade; the breast is also red and 
brown, with bright red feathers under the wings. The bill is 
very large and curved ; the cry is remarkably strong and harsh. 
When the other birds hold their morning concert, the kaka 
generally puts a stop to it with his harsh shrill note when 
he thinks they have sung long enough. It has a fine black 
eye. This is a large bird, little inferior in size to a duck ; it 
is easily tamed, and taught to speak. The natives make 
mokai or pets of them, and generally use them to decoy wild 
ones. This bird is eaten, but it is very dry, and, excepting 
the breast, rather strongly flavoured. It makes its nest in holes 
of trees, and lays two, four, and sometimes seven eggs. Gene¬ 
rally, three of these birds are found in the same hole, a male 
and two females; and their nests are so close, that either bird 
can cover the eggs of her neighbour, and thus give her leave 
of absence. The natives have a saying, that the kaka never 
alights on the maire tree. One kind has a larger bill, this is 
