The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-10-05
THE BIRDS OF MAoRILAND.

The "Parson'' and His Melody-Mock-
ers and Canaries-A Thievish Hen.
The birds Of New Zealand bush are
as UNIQUE and interesting as the trees
in which they sing. The songsters that
go from tree to tree, slipping sweetness
from the blossoms, and giving 1t all
away in song as they go, are TO pc
found in every gully and glen. 1t is
with these wandering MINISTRIES, says
the London Standard, that the travel
Ell is most delighted. Their songs are
like running rills in the deep silence of
the mountains. Their bursts of spark
sing under melody illustrate the bush
with dashes of sunlight in the deep
shade. Rich and rare is the singing or
the tut as he chants his mathis or yes
pers in the dim cloistral shades OF the
brush Brushing among the mowers OF
the eucalyptus in the sunlight, ne pours
forth a melody in perfect accord with
Natures glad mood; again, coming
from some deep valley where the twi-
light begins before the sun has set, his
voice is heard like the clang of
blacksmith's hammer in some hidden
village His note is mellow and clear,
though at times as shrill as the "cheep"
of the cricket, and again as full and
deep as the rich tones of a flute.
The New Zealanders may we'll call
him "parson bird" for not only has he
a white necktie on a complete dress OF
shining black, but it is his wont to in
tone at eventide, from the topmost
bough of some towering pine, litany
as solemn as it is musical. At the
sound of the tui's evening song the
anockers-there are always Knockers OF
solemn things-cease their vain imita-
tions and ribald mimicry one by one,
silenced by the growing darkness. But
This little feathered character must nave
"a paragraph to himself! the tut deserves
a more complete notice. He is the Bee
thoyen Of colonial birds. Between sun
showers of a spring morning he Will
pouring forth joyous strain full OF high
trills and scherZando movements; but
ever and again he will relapse into deep
cultural contralto tones to suit the
mood of the gloomier recesses OF the
bush In his solemn singing there IS
noticeable a peculiar imitation of the
grooming and creaking of the great
pines. in the bush, and frequently he
will terminate his song with strange
sound like the breaking of Dough.
The sound is very characteristic OF the
tut, and to hear it gives the listener
the idea that the bird must have taken
lessons from Eolus, and caught the
trick of crashing boughs in some tenn
pestuous forest symphony
Not less interesting though vile
mimic, is the mocker. SO named from
his wonderful powers of initiating and
fidiculing the song of the tut. His
delight is in the Wild fuchsia tree,
where he darts from flower to flower
slipping the honeydew from each and
pouring forth a melody as LIQUID and
refreshing as the shower of dewdrops
he scatters with his wings. The early
morning traveller along the mountain
path knows the nl0cker we'll MANY
time has he refined in his horse ia
watch the little bird darling rapidly
to and fro through the flowers and
leaves, all sparkling With dewdrops in
the rising sun. Not less sparkling i,
his song during this early mornine
breakfast. bath, and mathis all in one,
but in the heat of the day. when &
deep silence falls on the bush, he retires
from observation and immures himsel
among the solitudes OF the thick fol-
age. The traveller at midday know:
him well in this role. Often has i
turned in his saddle at the sound of i;
single sweet. metallic, bell-like note, anC
waited patiently for repetition of tn,