102 Bird-Song : and New Zealand Song Birds 
I have neither seen nor heard this bird,* but from Mr. F. 
Wilson already mentioned, I have obtained one of the phrases of 
the flute-notes, as follows: the pitch may not be correct, but the 
intervals will probably be so. The notes were prolonged and 
deliberate, though here, again, they may not be exact. 
p 
The South Island crow. —Dark bluish-grey, with a black 
band from the nostrils to the eye. Tail blackish at the tip. 
Wattle orange with a blue base. The sexes are alike, but the 
young are browner in colour, and have smaller wattles. Eye 
dark brown. Bill and legs black. Total length 16 in., of 
which the tail is 7 in. 
Eggs. —Two; warm stone-colour, with purplish and brown 
spots. Length in.; breadth 1 in. Potts says they resemble 
the eggs of some species of tern in colour and marking. 
Nest. —See remarks following. 
Habits. —Potts writes (PO, p. 195, et seq.) —“.Under 
favourable conditions the kokako may be found on the out¬ 
skirts of the bush, in the open glades that fringe some of the 
larger rivers. The gentle, confident manner, the rich, flute-like 
notes, the peculiar mode of progression even, cannot fail to 
draw the attention of the observer, albeit he may not be 
imbued with enthusiasm for gazing on the life that stirs in our 
woods. The ardent naturalist, who has the chance of knowing 
this bird, must learn to love it. 
“In the earlier spring months we have watched it out in the 
open glade, cropping various species of Graminiae, Gnaphalia, 
Polypodia ; often has its soft note attracted us to the bush 
where it has been feeding on the leaves of Melicytus, Carpo- 
detus, etc. As summer advances, ripening the clustering drupes 
and berries, the fruits of the fuchsia and the Coriaria afford 
an abundant supply of a favourite food. We have found it 
engaged, seemingly in a search for insects, prying amongst 
* I heard the note, since the above was in print, through the kindness of Mr. W. W. Smith of 
New Plymouth, in March, 1926. The sound was that of a mellow bass clarinet. 
