Kea.--A large parrot, common in the South Island. It was formerly a vegetarian, but in recent times it has developed a strong taste for flesh, and has wrought great destruction among sheep flocks. The fat surrounding the kidney appears to be its chief delight. Planting its strong claws into the woolly loins of the live sheep, it, by the aid of its powerful beak, pierces through those parts of the flesh and fat around the kidney, which it greedily devours, while the animal is powerless to resist its attacks. Kereru.--_Columbus spadicea._ A wood-pigeon. Kiwi.--Fam. _Struthionidæ._ (See Wingless Birds.) Kohihi.--_Endynamys taitensis._ A bird. Kohaperoa.--A bird of passage, the New Zealand cuckoo; it is a handsome bird, spotted like the sparrow-hawk. Kokako.--The New Zealand crow. Kororeke.--The New Zealand quail. Koriniako.--Genus _Melliphagus._ The bell-bird, one of the sweetest songsters. Kotare.--_Halcyon vagrans._ The king-fisher. Kotuku.--_Ardea flavirostris._ A large white crane. Koukou.--A small nocturnal owl, the "morepork" of the colonists. Kuruengo.--The shoveller, a duck of Lake Taupo. Mata.--A swamp-sparrow, a small brown bird with long tail feathers. Matuku.--_Botaurus melanotus._ A bittern. Mirmiro.--_Miro albifrons._ A small, graceful bird. Moa.--Fam. _Struthionidæ._ (See Wingless Birds.) Moakeroa.--A black bird with red bill and feet. Ngirungiru.--_Petroica macrocophala._ A tomtit. Parera.--_Anas superciliosa._ A wild duck. Pihana.--A little black and white bird. Pihoihoi.--The New Zealand ground-lark. Piwakawaka.--_Rhipidura flabellifera._ The fantail fly-catcher, a small graceful bird with a spreading tail. Poaka.--_Himantopis._ Pied stilt. Popokatea.--_Orthornyx heteroalytus._ The New Zealand canary bird. Poporoihewa.--A snipe-like bird. Puetoeto.--A bird living in swamps. Pukeko.--_Porophyrino melanotus._ The swamp-hen; red bill and feet, back black, breast bright blue. Putaugitange.--_Casarca variegata._ The paradise-duck. Riroriro.--Fam. _Luscindæ._ A small wren. Ruru.--_Strigidæ Athene._ An owl. Takupu.--A white gull. Tarapunga.--A small gull, frequenting Lake Taupo. Tatarihuka.--A small bird, held sacred by the Maories. Tatariki.--Fam. _Luscindæ._ A small bird. Tewakawaka.--Fam. _Rhipidura fuliginosa._ The black fantail. Titi.--_Palecanoides urinatrix._ The mutton-bird. Toetoe.--_Certhiparus Novæ Zealandiæ._ A small bird. Totoara.--The robin. Tui.--_Prosthemadera Novæ Zealandiæ._ The parson-bird. A beautiful black bird, the size of a thrush; plumage a lustrous blue-black, irradiated with green hues, pencilled with silver-grey, and white delicate hair-feathers under the throat, suggestive of a parson's tie. It has a melodious, clear note, and mocks other birds. It is easily domesticated, and may be taught to talk.