NATIVE BIRDS 189 
The young stay in the nest until they are ready to fly 
well. When a site is finally selected and the work fairly 
started, the birds do not leave the spot, but one keeps 
watch when the other is working or is seeking food. The 
material is dug out with their bills, which they use as 
picks. 
They will tolerate no intrusions into their home and 
resent trespassers even in the vicinity. The female has 
often been seen to meet a person two or three hundred 
yards from her young, dash at the intruder, return to the 
place where the young were perched, and repeat the attack 
several times. 
Kingfishers are very useful birds, destroying many in- 
jurious insects, and thus rendering valuable service to 
the farmer. 
The Kaka. 
The Kaka belongs to that order of birds which includes 
the parrots and other climbers. It is found in both 
islands ; but is almost confined to those places where the 
bush is dense. 
In colour it is olive brown, with a grey head and purplish 
red breast. At the back of the neck is a band of yellowish 
red, and the under surface of the wing is red. The eye is 
dark brown, The bill is strong and hooked, the upper 
mandible being prolonged into a sharp curve, which projects 
beyond the straight lower one. The tongue is thick, fining 
down towards the point. The wings are long and pointed, 
and the tail is squared at the end. The short stout legs 
end in four pointed toes, two of which are in front and 
two behind, as in all climbing birds. The eyes are alike, 
and the young may be distinguished by the brown bars 
across the red under-surface of the wing. 
