RARE BIRD KILLED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 69, 22 March 1928, Page 21

RARE BIRD KILLED.

LONG-TAILED CUCKOO.

IN AN ARCH HILL GARDEN

There was a tragedy in an Aroh Hill garden yesterday. A cat killed a koheperoa, or long-tailed cuckoo, one of the rarest of the New Zealand birds. The cat belonged to Mrs. E. Olsen, 21, Commercial Road, who brought the dead bird to the Auckland Museum, where it was identified and retained as an exhibit.

The koheperoa is rarely seen in Auckland. Without bothering about such things as deportation orders it leaves Samoa and other South Sea Islands in the early spring in company with the pipiwharauroa, or shining back cuckoo — the latter bird is fairly common in Auckland at certain seasons of the year— and after first landing in North Auckland, gradually works its way south. Before the winter comes the koheperoa wings its way back to a warmer climate.

Mrs. Olsen stated that on Tuesday night she heard a curious call, but thought it came from a seagull. She saw the bird struggling to get away from the cat, but was unable to save it.