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F 12 THE NEW ZEALAND HER A LD, FRIDAY. SEPT, an 
Colony of Huias 
Found 
PROTECTION WANTED 
Own Corres. Wellington 
A colony of huias has been found in 
a remote bush area of the East Coast. 
The Hawke’s Bay naturalist who saw 
the birds said he would not disclose 
the exact area for fear that people 
would interfere with them. 
The huia, once thought to be extinct, 
has a large bill and near-black 
plumage. The Maoris thought highly 
of its feathers, and used them for 
personal adornment. 
In the House of Representatives yes¬ 
terday, Mr J. G. Edwards (Opposition 
—Napier) asked the Minister of Inter¬ 
nal Affairs, Mr Smith, if he would 
take immediate steps to have the 
colony completely protected, as was 
done when the takahe was redis¬ 
covered. 
Two or tnree years alter tins observation the starlings ceased 
their flights to Toko; for what reason is not known. 
The New Zealand members of this family are 
Heteralocha acutirostris lmia 
Creadion carunculatus the saddle-back tieke 
The huia. —Greenisli-black, with a band of white at the end 
of the tail. Bill white; wattles orange. Eye dark brown. 
The birds were unique in the bills of the two sexes differing 
markedlythat of the male, 2| in. along the ridge, being stout, 
and comparatively straight, that of the female, 4 inches, slender 
and down-curved. In feeding, the male chiselled the affected 
wood for grubs, the female probed for them. Total length, 
18-J in., of which the tail is in. 
Eggs. —Greyish-white, with a few spots of purple and brown. 
Length, a little over If in. 
1955 
