184 NEW ZEALAND NATURE-STUDY BOOK 
tree-fern, the whole being lined with fine grass. There are 
generally four eggs, white or pale pink in colour, and 
marked with brown spots, which are more numerous near 
the thick end, 
The Tuis are amongst the most lively birds of the New 
Zealand bush and are constantly seen darting about 
amongst the shrubs and_ trees. A writer in an early 
number of The Ibis thus describes the Tui’s manner of 
mounting into the air in fine weather in parties of about 
half a dozen, “turning, twisting, throwing somersaults, 
dropping from a height with expanded wings and tail, and 
performing other antics, till, as if guided by some pre- 
concerted signal, they suddenly dive into the forest and 
are lost to view.” 
The Tui is a good songster, but can seldom be induced 
to sing; it seems to prefer mocking other birds, an 
accomplishment at which it is an adept. Its song is very 
melodious and sweet and such is the volume of sound when 
poured forth, as it usually is, from the top of a tall tree, 
that it is clearly heard for long distances round. 
The Pied Fantail (Tiwakawaka). 
Another well known native bird belonging to the same 
order is the Pied Fantail. It is found all over the Colony 
and is amongst the prettiest and most engaging birds in 
these islands. 
The head and neck are blackish grey, with white throat 
and eyebrows: the back is brown, and the breast and 
abdomen are yellowish red. In the tail the two middle 
feathers are black with white tips, the outer ones aré white, 
whilst the intermediate ones are white with the outer 
vanes partly black. All the shafts are white; the eye 
is round and black. The male and female bird resemble 
each other exactly. In the young the upper surface of the 
body is shaded with red and the lower surface with tawny 
