WHAT IS THE BIRD ?

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23157, 1 October 1938, Page 8 (Supplement)

WHAT IS THE BIRD ?

Some time ago I •was asked to identify a bird/ Now!''that may -sound, a very easy task, but it Has, on the contrary, proved extremely difficult, and • although I have made- inquiries from reliable sources I am not yet able to say what kind of bird.-was seen by_.the readefs at the Pirongia School. Most people are. of, thp- opinion-that it is an; escaped cage- bird. ; , ' However,' as a last resource, I. am publishing the description sent to me and request anyone being able, to supply information concerning the bird's identity to;please communicate with "Anne Shirley, ' N.Z. Hebald, Queen Street, Auckland. The bird' is ; described as being the size of a fajitail, with a very red face and head, red breist, grey wings with one black feather downj each side of the wings, black feet', >. orange\ beak with stripes down the - centre; grey back with, odd black feathers, a touch of yellow round the head. 'The bird flits about like a fantail'with "tail spread _but when sitting on the ground the. tail is shut like that of,a blackbird. fi v--V ;s ;