42 
NATURE STUDY NOTES 
PART II.—BIRDS 
INTRODUCTORY NOTES 
The descriptions are of the male birds. The 
songs are represented approximately: it is often 
impossible to do so more exactly, as the intervals 
between successive notes introduce quarter tones, 
or even less differences of pitch. The closest 
approximation can be obtained by whistling the 
notes given for each bird, an octave, or, if possible, 
two octaves higher than their vocal pitch. Birds’ 
eggs can be collected without cruelty if carefully 
done, fiom nests which contain more than three; 
but it is illegal to take any eggs from the nests 
of native birds (e.g., the Tui and the Bell Bird) or 
from the nest of the Starling. Nests should not 
be collected earlier than the month of April. It is 
impossible to view some of the smaller adult birds 
foi 11101 e than a few seconds at a time on account 
of their shyness. For “lesson” purposes this short 
examination can be supplemented by a large picture 
01 coloured blackboard sketch. Godwits collect on 
the shores of Parengarenga Flarbour, North Auck¬ 
land, and leave New Zealand in the months of 
Februaiy and March for Siberia, their homeland. 
1 he Cuckoos also leave New Zealand at this time, 
flying to the Solomon Islands and neighbouring 
Pacific islands. Young Cuckoos do not leave until 
April, and some of the late-hatched remain in New 
Zealand until the following summer before 
migrating.. This accounts for Cuckoos being seen 
here occasionally in the winter. All the migrants 
return to New Zealand in the middle of September. 
