BIRDS OF NEW ZEALAND IN ORDER OF SIZE AT 
fast, frequently dives. Long upturned bill. Commonly 
known as Snipe or Curlew. Charadriiformes. 
18 in. Rook (Corvus frugilegus). Introduced. Head 
black with whitish grey, bare patch at base of bill. Upper 
parts black glossed with bluish purple. Under parts black 
glossed with bluish purple. Legs black. Flight slow and 
stately. Frequents well cultivated districts round Christ- 
church and Hawke’s Bay. Walks. Gregarious in habits. 
Known by bare patch at base of bill. Passeriformes. 
18 in. Black Petrel (Procellaria parkinsoni). . Head 
black, paler on throat. Bill yellow. Upper parts sooty 
black. Under parts black tinged brown. Legs black. 
Flight very powerful, near surface of water, extremely 
rapid, especially when flying inland. Lives off northern 
coasts-of New Zealand. Seldom approaches land except at 
night and morning in breeding season. Solitary at sea. 
Distinctive feature bluish patches on bill, pitch black plum- 
age; call like Swan: Diurnal in habits, haunting sea like 
Albatross. Call at night with harsh moaning note. Procel- 
lariiformes. mbesta, odhradnioA 
18 in. Sombre Shearwater or New Zealand. Muttonbird 
(Neonectris or Pufints griseus). Head dusky brown. Bill 
dark brown, light at the tip. Upper parts sooty brown, 
wings tipped with black, under wing coverts pale grey. 
Under parts greyish brown. Legs fleshy brown. Flight 
magnificent, especially at night, very still and even more 
magnificent than Albatross. Ranges over Atlantic and 
Pacific Oceans. Digs deeper burrows than other Petrels. 
Shuffles awkwardly on land, silent on wing, but howls and 
screams outside burrows. Nocturnal in habits. Flit about 
breeding stations uttering weird cries. Conspicuous whitish 
area of underwing coverts, which have brown or black 
shaft stripes. Procellariiformes. 
18 in. Pied Oystercatcher. (Haematopus ostralegus). 
Head black, bill red with orange yellow. Upper parts 
black and white. Lower parts white, upper breast black. 
Legs dark red. Flight very powerful and rapid, sometimes 
sails on motionless wings. Shows much white as it flies 
away. Haunts rocky coasts, with sandy bays, mud flats, 
also sandy coasts. Swims and runs rapidly with short steps. 
Intense black and white plumage, known as Sea Magpie. 
Charadriiformes. 
18 in. Little Blue Penguin (Hudyptula minor). Head light 
blue, cheeks greyish. Upper parts shade variable. Light 
glossy biue feathers narrowly centred with black. Flippers 
greyish black margined white. Under parts silvery white. 
Short feet flesh coloured above. No flight, uses wings as 
