THE TUIS' DUET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23489, 28 October 1939, Page 7 (Supplement)

THE TUIS' DUET

Dear Anne Shirley,—Our kowhai trees, now laden with beautiful yellow blossoms, grow by a deep salt-water creek. The other day 1 thought I would get some kowhai for mother, so off I went. But as I approached the creek I saw it was enclosed by gorse (now in full flower, but still prickly) and blackberry briars. However, I plunged through these, to the detriment of legs and Rothes, and then I saw. that the waving flax on.the brink of the creek concealed tlie kowhai trees, which were rooted in the creek! Just then, a beautiful male ttii flew to a kowhai tree, where he sipped the nectar —oh, so daintily—and ruffled out his lovely blue-green plumage. Then along came another tui, smaller and of less significant plumage, obviously his mate. She playfully pushed the male from bis perch, and started nectar-sipping. Then her mate began to sing and she joined him.' Really, Anne Shirley, it was as sweet as any classical duet, with their various notes intermingled. It was soon over, and as if aware of my presence, they flew away and left me with their song still echoing about me. —Love from Maureen Grace, Whitford.