THE SHINING CUCKOO o/ 
breast, covered with alternate bars of white and 
light brown. Tail has a number of white spots. 
Legs, dark brown, almost black. (See p. 51.) 
FOOD—Caterpillars and grubs; also insects, 
spiders, earth-worms and small crabs; particular \ 
fond of the grub of the Day-flying Moth. (See p. 
20 of Part I.) 
NEST_-Uses that of another bird, usually the 
Grey Warbler or the White-head. One egg only, 
which is usually hatched in September or October, 
but sometimes later. (See p. 43.) 
HABITS—Shy; more frequently heard than seen. 
Stretches out and quivers its wings when “singing. 
Arrives in New Zealand in middle of September, 
leaving again in February. (See p. 42). Although 
the young “warblers” are pushed out of the nest 
by the larger and stronger fledgling cuckoo, the 
parent “warblers” continue to feed it until some 
days after it has left the nest. 
“The Maori could catch the spirit of the Shining 
Cuckoo’s woodland voice: 
Km, km, 
Whitiwhiti ora, 
Tio—o! 
As James Cowan says—lines of pure music. A 
moment later we heard a really perfect call of this 
beautiful bird, similar to the Maori song, but with 
a number of ‘kin's' in front." (F.G. I.) 
“The preliminary notes have an upward inflection, 
and there is a long-drawn downward inflection at 
the finish.” F.C.B. 
