THE SHINING CUCKOO.

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 251, 24 October 1942, Page 4

THE SHINING CUCKOO.

[To The Editor.] Sir, — From the further information given in "Interested's" more recent letter, and his interpretation of the bird call, it would appear that the bird is the pipiwharauroa or shining euckoo that he is inquiring about. This handsome bird has a brown speckled breast and a glossy darkgreen back plumage, and darker wings v/ith a white flash. It v/inters in the Pacific Islands near the Equator, -but visits these shores generally in early October for breeding purposes. As stated in my previous letter, it lays an egg severally in the nest of the riro riro or grey warbler, leaving the latter to hateh and rear the c-hick. It leaves again for the tropic islands somewhere about March -or April, always following a well defined route. It may be interesting to know that scientists have defined this route as following the location of the sunken continent of Lemuria, a tract of land which, according to theory and marine soundings, extended from the Campbell Islands to the East Indies, including New Zealand and the various Pacific Islands, which are supposed to be the higher parts of this long submerged continent. To account for the migration of the bird, Maori myths state that it assumes the form of a green lizard during the winter, when apparently these rare reptiles were more frequently seen. Another myth states that it lives in a burrow or eaves during the winter. Probably sick birds, or -birds too belated to join the general winter migration, were found sheltering from tlie cold in such plaCes, hence the myth. Tlie riro riro, bush wren or grey warbler, has green back plumage and wings with a grey breast. It is still fairly plentifiul in parts.

W. J. r

ELVY.