from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. The poe-bird, Prosthemadera novæ-zelandiæ. Also called parson and tui.
Sorry, no etymologies found.
The tui or parson-bird is a starling, and has a small tuft of white cravat-like feathers growing from his throat.
The sweet clear whistle of the tui or parson-bird -- so called from his glossy black suit and white wattles curling exactly where a clergy-man's bands would be, -- could be heard at a distance; whilst overhead the soft cooing of the wild pigeons, and the hoarse croak of the ka-ka or native parrot, made up the music of the birds 'orchestra.