RIRORIRO, THE GREY WARBLER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 307, 28 December 1935, Page 5 (Supplement)

RIRORIRO, THE GREY WARBLER.

HUNTER OF SMALL GAME.

By E. G. TURBOTT.

RIRORIRO, a very small sweet songed bird common throughout

New Zealand, has no foundation for boasting about brilliant plumage. Instead he uses all his good points to fit excellently into any kind of scenery, especially the most enchanting places you can imagine. You will know riroriro, the grey warbler {or "tomtit" perhaps you wrongly call him, the true tomtit being a black and white —or yellow-breasted bush bird), having seen him, at your nearest view, in some forest, if not in the garden right by your window.

We have here no picture of the grey warbler. As a matter of fact, this is hardly necessary, when the last time you met him must be quite recently, and your mind has preserved a clear picture. There it is— the swaying bush of tall kanuka, a delicate trill, yourself alert, and a small bird that comes, with whitish grey and brown plumage, a whitemarked tail and a red eye. There is never doubt as to what the bird is doing with his time. He is at work, and this work, as a little following of his movements by you shows, is that of the hunter. By the scientist the grey warbler and many others are given a. family