. The animals of New Zealand; an account of the dominion's air-breathing vertebrates . New Zealand only. The Tui.—Tui or or greenish black, with white streaks on the back of the neck,and a white spot on each wing. Throat ornamented with two tufts ofwhite curly feathers. Eye dark brown. Length of the wing, in.;of the tarsus, in. The sexes are alike. The young are slaty blackwith a light patch on the breast. Egg—White or pale pink spottedwith rufous brown, principally towards the larger end; length, islands, Chatham Islands, Aucklan
. The animals of New Zealand; an account of the dominion's air-breathing vertebrates . New Zealand only. The Tui.—Tui or or greenish black, with white streaks on the back of the neck,and a white spot on each wing. Throat ornamented with two tufts ofwhite curly feathers. Eye dark brown. Length of the wing, in.;of the tarsus, in. The sexes are alike. The young are slaty blackwith a light patch on the breast. Egg—White or pale pink spottedwith rufous brown, principally towards the larger end; length, islands, Chatham Islands, Auckland Islands. Although the tui is called the parson bird, on account ofthe little tuft of white feathers that sticks out from its throat. 108 THE ANIMALS OP NEW ZEALAND and contrasts with its sombre plumage, it is not very sedate orstaid in its bearing. Its flight, indeed, is distinguished by gaiety,and sometimes it sends forth a wikl burst of joyful notes. , in his New Zealand, has given a brief but admirabledescription of this bird. It is larger, he says, than the. Tui: old and young. black-bird, and more elegant in shape. Its plumage is lustrousblack, irradiated with green hues, and pencilled with silvergrey, and it displays a white throat-tuft for its clerical can sing, but seldom will; and it preserves its voice formocking othei-s. Darting through some low scrub to the topmosttwig of the tallest tree, it commences roaring forth a variety ofstrange notes, with such changes of voice and volume of tone asto claim the instant attention of the forest. Caught and caged,it is still the merry ventriloquist, and mocks cocks and cats, andattempts the baby. To add to its merits, it becomes very fineeating in the season of poroporo berries. THE TUI 109 Sometimes the tui assumes an antagonistic attitude towardsother birds, and it has been seen chasing the kingfisher, thebell-bird, and other enemies from the trees in which its younghave been placed. The nest, whic
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