176 Bird-Song : and New Zealand Song Birds 
The number of repetitions of the slur appears to be altogether 
arbitrary; I have not been able to detect any regular recurrence 
or order, and Potts, writing on this subject (Tr., Yol. 6, 1874 
pp. 148-9) observes.—"Having long since taken an interest in 
bird notes, many observations have been made on those of the 
s— 
_^ 
— 
• 
ma.nyf.Lm.es repeater/. 
2 
wit wit tiu tiu tiu tiu wit wit tiu 
whistler (shining cuckoo) ; yet repeated attempts have failed 
to discover any guide why the number of its notes should so 
greatly vary; whether the bird’s call is affected by the state 
of the atmosphere, temperature, the force of the wind, or the 
quarter Avhence it blows. At all hours it may be heard in its 
season, but at night the call seems most sustained, both as 
regards the distinct notes or whistles, and the remarkable song 
or flourish with which it often ends the performance. 
Some notes, taken from October 25th to November 10th:— 
11.30 p.m. to 1 a.rn., 14 to 34; 3.45 a.m., 18 to 41; 4.45 a.rn., 15 
to 24; 6.45 a.m., 13 to 25; 11.45 a.m. to 0.20 p.m, 3 to 42; 4.30 
