W A T T L E - B I R D.
Iprings a round fubftance, in texture like the wattle of a Cock s
at firft this is of a fine blue colour, but afterwards becomes of a
fine orange: the irides are of a fine mazarine blue: from the
forehead to the eye, and between that and the bill, the colour is
of a deep black; the reft of the plumage dark alh-colour: the
tail pretty long* confifting of twelve feathers, and is cuneiform
in lhape, the outer feather being lhorter than the middle one by
one inch : the wings, when clofed, reach to the bafe only: the legs
are long : and the hind claw much longer than the others.
This bird inhabits New Zealand throughout: it is often feen
walking on the ground, and fometimes perched on trees, though
lefs frequent: its food confifts of various articles ; berries of all
kinds, and infefts; and, according to the relation of fome, fmall
birds alfo.
The flefti is good to eat, and was by lome accounted even fa-
voury. It has a kind of note not unlike whittling, and fometimes
a kind of murmuring, though not an unpleafing one *. As
great a Angularity as any is the tongue, which is by no means
like that of any known bird, as will be feen by confulting the op-'
polite plate.
For this account I am indebted to Dr. J . R. Forfter.
• M r . F o rfte r. in his Voy. talks of the ffir2t notes of Thruihes, the g ra v er.p ip e
i f W a ttlt-B ir d s , and the enchanting melody of various Creepers, refoundine on
all tides. Vol. i. p. 148.
P lace a n **
Ma n n e r s .
G e n u s