408 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
means of the joints of its wings, which are bare of feathers, 
and horny, and uses its short strong tail as a support. There 
are many varieties of teal, widgeon, coots, &c. 
Fam. Alcidoe. — Korora, (spheniscus minor,) the small green 
and white penguin, formerly very abundant; it lays two white 
eggs in the crevices of rocks and holes near the sea-shore. 
Hoiho (eudyptes antipodes). This penguin is double the 
size of the former, the back is dark brown, and the breast 
white ; it is very rarely seen in the Northern Island. 
Fam. Procellaridoe. — Titi, (pelecanoides urinatrix,) a dark 
grey sea bird, with white breast, which goes inland at sun-set, 
and flies about in the dusk for a short time, with great noise; 
it lays one egg in the holes of rocks, and is very fat. It is 
supposed to deposit a store of food for its young when 
hatched, and then to abandon it; hence the saying, “He manu 
wangainga tahi," —“A bird that only feeds its young once.” 
Toroa (diomedea exulans). —The albatross is found in the 
New Zealand seas; the feathers are highly prized by the 
natives as ornaments, especially the under wing feathers, which 
are pure white, and the down, tufts of which are worn in the 
lobe of the ear. The wing bones also are used as neck and 
ear ornaments. 
Fam. Pelecanidoe.—Kauwau or karuhiruki, (graucalus 
varius vel carunculatus,) a black, or black and white bird, 
abounding in rivers and harbours. They are sociable birds, 
and build their nests in great numbers on the same tree, over¬ 
hanging the water; the smell of one of these colonies is almost 
insupportable. 
The totoara is a slate-colored bird, with a few little white 
feathers near the bill; it is the New Zealand robin, and a very 
grave but social tame bird, always following the steps of man. 
There are several birds omitted in this list, which are not 
classed, but the most interesting are here given. 
Fam. Scincidce. —New Zealand formerly possessed many 
species of lizards, and if native accounts may be depended 
upon, many of these were ot very large size. Even when 
Europeans first visited the islands, they were far more numer¬ 
ous than they now are; their decrease may be attributed to 
