134 Transactions. — Zoology, 



pointed forwards. During a combat the} 7 injure most the back 

 of the head. If examined after it, they are found to be wounded 

 only on the head and neck. Along with the bruises produced 

 by the hard bill are punctures caused by the wing-spurs. The 

 latter are always more numerous at the base of the bill, and 

 about the eyes, rarely extending down the neck. For a few 

 days after the battle the head is swollen and hard, the neck is 

 stiff and carried forward, but when near abundance of cold water 

 they soon recover. 



I know several authentic instances of the wekas' thievish 

 tricks ; one will suffice to show how dearly it pays at times for 

 some inquisitive freaks of its nature. Six years ago a weka 

 entered a bushman's hut in Peel Forest, during his absence. 

 After springing on to the table it tasted the meat, the butter, and 

 bread, and ungratefully tumbled the remainder on to the floor, 

 endeavouring no doubt to carry them off. Failing this, it took 

 with it, as the bushman asserted, " one of a new pair of Sunday 

 boots." Although the loss of food, or injury to the carpet or 

 crockery was small, and the new Sunday boot left only a few 

 paces from the door, the bushman was avenged. In less than 

 a month after the occurrence, he informed me, with his dog and 

 gun he had killed forty wekas. 



It is melancholy to notice the species disappearing horn 

 districts where only a few years ago it existed plentifully. Its 

 presence is a boon to agriculture, and I trust the good qualities 

 I have mentioned will commend the weka to the protection of 

 the colonists. 



Art XXVIII. — Description of Hybrid Ducks, bred from < ommon 

 Duck (A. boschus) 5 and Grey Ihick (A. superciliosa) J . 

 B}' Taylor White, GlengaiTie, Napier. 



'Brad before the Uawke's Bay Philosophical Institute, 188 



Arott nine years ago the grey drake [A. superciliosa) was trapped 

 in the Wakatip Lake District, and readily became tame, but was 

 very shy with strangers. In the third spring it paired with a 

 domestic duck (A. boschxs). A brood of six hybrids were reared. 

 No. 1. These mainly partook in type of the domestic duck, 

 but were smaller, more plump in shape ; colour, a creamy 

 brown with darker markings, inclining to white on lower part of 

 breast, throat, and cheek ; a dark line passing through the eye, 

 as in A. superciliosa ; beak, brownish yellow ; legs, dull yellow ; 

 speculum blue, outer black, margined with white, as in domestic 

 duck. The drakes very similar to English wild duck (A. 

 boschus), and having the curled tail-feathers ; speculum, blue. 

 Could rlv fairly well, but with reluctance. 



