66 NEW ZEALAND BIRDS. 



Islands. It occurs also in New Caledonia ; and the Maoris have a 

 tradition that tamo ones wore hrouf^ht l)y their ancestors in their 

 migration from tlio historic ' Ilawaiki.' It is abundant in our coun- 

 try in all localities suited to its ha1)its of life, such as marshes, flax- 

 swamps, and lagoons covered with beds of raupo and rushes. It also 

 frequents the banks of freshwater streams ; and in places contiguous 

 to these haunts it is accustomed to resort, in the early morning, to 

 tlie open fields and cultivated grounds in quest of food. It subsists 

 principally on soft vegetable substances, but it also feeds on insects 

 and grain. By the aid of its powerful bill it pulls uj) the inner 

 succulent stems of the raupo, or swamp-rocd, and nips off the soft 

 parts near the root, holding the object in the toes of one foot while 

 feeding, something after the manner of a Parrot. It is a noticeable 

 fact that in many of the settled districts its numbers have perceptibly 

 increased within the last few years, owing, no doubt, to the greater 

 abundance of food afforded by the farms and plantations of the 

 colonists. Large flocks of them may often be seen spread over the 

 stubble-fields, or diligently at work in the potato-grounds or among 

 the standing corn. On being disturbed they generally run to the 

 nearest cover, only taking wing when pressed or when suddenly sur- 

 prised. They rise from the ground rather awkAvardly, the legs 

 dangling and the wings being hurriedly flapj^ed ; by degrees the 

 trailing legs are raised to the level of the body ; and the flight then 

 becomes more steady, but is nevertheless laboured and heavy. As a 

 rule, they fly only a short distance, dropping into the nearest shelter 

 that offers itself, and trusting for escape to their swiftness of foot ; 

 when fairly mounted in the air, however, they are capable of a rather 

 prolonged flight, as I have many times had an opportunity of wit- 

 nessing.^' BlLLER. 



