parson-bird

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

n. the New Zealand bird Prosthemadera novae-zelandiae, Gmel.; Maori name, Tui (q.v.). See also Poe.


1855. Rev. R. Taylor, `Te Ika a Maui,' p. 401:

«Cook named this beautiful and lively bird the parson andmocking-bird. It acquired the first name from its having tworemarkable white feathers on the neck like a pair ofclergyman's bands.»

[Mr. Taylor is not correct. Cook called it the Poe-bird (q.v.). The name `Parson-bird' is later.]

1857. C. Hursthouse, `New Zealand the Britain of the South,'vol. i. p. 118:

«The most common, and certainly the most facetious, individualof the ornithology is the tui (parson-bird). JoyousPunchinello of the bush, he is perpetual fun in motion.»

1858. C. W., `Song of the Squatters,' `Canterbury Rhymes'(2nd edit.), p. 47:

«So the parson-bird, the tui,

The white-banded songster tui,

In the morning wakes the woodlands

With his customary music.

Then the other tuis round him

Clear their throats and sing in concert,

All the parson-birds together.»

1866. Lady Barker, `Station Life in New Zealand,' p. 93:

«The tui, or parson-bird, most respectable and clerical-lookingin its glossy black suit, with a singularly trim and dapperair, and white wattles of very slender feathers – – indeed they areas fine as hair – – curled coquettishly at each side of his throat,exactly like bands.»

1888. Dr. Thomson, apud Buller, `Birds of New Zealand,' vol.i. p. 95:

«Sitting on the branch of a tree, as a pro temporepulpit, he shakes his head, bending to one side and then toanother, as if he remarked to this one and to that one; andonce and again, with pent-up vehemence, contracting his musclesand drawing himself together, his voice waxes loud, in a mannerto awaken sleepers to their senses.»

1890. W. Colenso, `Bush Notes,' `Transactions of the NewZealand Institute,' vol. xxxiii. art. lvii. p. 482:

«It is very pleasing to hear the deep rich notes of theparson-bird – – to see a pair of them together diligently occupiedin extracting honey from the tree-flowers, the sun shining ontheir glossy sub-metallic dark plumage.»

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

← parsnip, wild   ×   partridge-pigeon →

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