Local & General

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 75, 20 January 1947, Page 5

Local & General

Late Fruit Crop Whereas more than 400 cases of pip-fruit had been delivered to the I.M.D. depot by Hawke’s Bay fruitgrowers by this time last season, receipts so far this season amount to only 280 cases. The figures give a striking illustration of the lateness of the fruit crop •in maturing this season. Hospital Figures The following Hospital statistics were laid before the Whakatane Hospital Board at its meeting yesterday: In hospital at December Ist, 95 (54 female 41 male); admissions 163 (57 and 106); discharges 161 (60 and 101); deaths 5 (3 and 2); in hospital at end of month 92 (35 and 57); births 37 (20 and 17); operations major 5, minor 55. The daily average occupied bed was 95.39. Cuckoo’s Appetite The hunger cry of the young shining cuckoo is a peculiar sustained, note that is repeated with mechanical precision, writes a bird-watcher in “Forest and Bird.” Early this spring a grey warbler was observed making repeated efforts to satisfy the hunger of a young cuckoo in its nest, but was unable to still the persistent cry for more than a few moments.. Next morning the cry could not be heard and it was thought that the little warbler had- caught up with the amazing appetite of its foster child. Investigation, however, revealed that there were four warblers carrying food to the cuckoo. Sometimes two would arrive simultane-

ously, when one would perch on a neighbouring branch until the other had thrust its beak down the capacious throat of the fledgling, and then, it would fly over and deposit its grub in the same place.

Redoubtable Tuis In, the virgin bush near Pafaparaumu the tui is monarch of all he surveys, writes a member of the Forest and Bird Protection-Society. He appears to be social to the extent that he lives in colonies,, and the community invariably comes to the aid of the individual. A perfect example of this community spirit was seen recently. Out of a clear blue sky on a summer’s afternoon,' the serenity of the bush was disturbed by the screeching of a pair of magpies. Looking up, I saw a tui being hotly pursued by a pair of 1 them—one on each flank. As he swerved and dived to avoid the sharp beaks of his enemies, the magpies manoeuvred with the speed-. and dexterity which-is characters-' tic of them, in an endeavour to head him off -from the bush. Then,*, from: over the tree tops came a pair of tuis, followed by a dozen others. Their evolutions were delightful to watch as they quickly fanned out to encircle their enemies. In a -few moments pandemonium raged as the natives attacked the • foreigners, who gave, up the uneven fight and retreated to their own preserves.