Reischek. — (hi the Habits oj New Zealand Birds. 105 



Art. XIX. — Notes on the Habits of some New Zealand Birds. 

 By A. Reischek, F.L.S. ; communicated by Professor 

 Parker. 



[Read before the Otago Institute, 11th August, 1885.] 



Ocydromus fuscus, Dubus. — Black Wood-ben (Weka). 



I observed tbis bird during my stay at the West Coast Sounds, 

 in 1884. I saw them mostly at dusk, roaming about stony river 

 beds, seeking food ; the numerous dead trees, which are swept 

 down along the banks by floods, affording them hiding places. 

 I have also seen them on the seashore, picking up mussels, 

 crabs, &c, and on the mountains, as high as 3,000 feet above 

 sea-level, but scarce. During the day, they conceal themselves 

 under roots and in hollow trees, their hiding places having 

 generally two or three entrances, so that in case of disturbance 

 they can easily escape. I was amused once at seeing my dog 

 digging vigilantly at a burrow, while the wood-hen was quietly 

 stealing away. On the dog pursuing her, she dodged him in 

 the coolest manner for nearly a quarter of an hour, by going 

 under the trees, and always taking care to keep on the opposite 

 side from that on which he was ; but on my coming to the 

 dog's assistance, she gave a shrill whistle, and ran quickly 

 away. When undisturbed, these birds are very bold and tame. 



I always make it a rule not to shoot or molest birds near 

 my camp, so as to observe them, and listen to their sweet 

 songs. At Dusky Sound, a shining black wood-hen came every 

 morning and evening to my camp in the gorge, uttering a shrill 

 whistle of one note, and, on my throwing her a piece of biscuit, 

 she would pick it up, throwing it on the ground till it broke, 

 and then eat it. She became so tame that she would walk 

 round the dog, and come into the tent ; and on a second visit to 

 this camp, I found she still haunted the place. On the 25th 

 April, at daylight, I was awakened by a noise, and, on looking 

 up, saw one of these birds amusing itself with my slippers, 

 but on my moving she retired. On the 21st August, early 

 in the morning, I shot a specimen, which never moved when 

 picked up. I tied a string round its legs, and hung it up, 

 intending to skin it after breakfast ; but on going to do so, 

 to my astonishment the bird had disappeared. I sent the 

 dog to find it, but he could not. On the 24th, I let the dog 

 loose for a run. He went into the bush, and returned with a 

 live wood-hen, which I found on skinning so riddled with shot, 

 that I thought it wonderful it could have survived. On the 

 27th, I went late in the evening along the left side of the Sound 

 to observe nocturnal birds. About fifty yards from shore, I 

 saw a bird swimming, which I shot at, and my dog immediately 



