400 Dr. O. Fiusch's Ornithological 



most obliging way. A prominent feature in the avifauna 

 of New Zealand is the " Weka'^ of the natives^ or "Wood- 

 hen " of the colonists — a most difficult group, as regards its 

 specific distinctions, of which our knowledge is still very 

 imperfect. There have been, no doubt, too many so-called 

 species established, and their numbers will diminish when we 

 are better acquainted with these birds than at present. In 

 the South Island Ocydromus troglodytes is in certain localities, 

 chiefly on the Mackenzie plains near to the Alps, very com- 

 mon, and was met Avith by me frequently, running sometimes 

 nearly under the hoofs of our horses. This bird is very tame 

 indeed. It enters the houses and tents, and, not only that, 

 but steals what it can get and transport, chiefly things of a 

 shining nature, such as spoons, watches, and so forth. The 

 Weka is very much esteemed by the natives on account of its 

 flesh, and is hunted by them with dogs. On arriving one day 

 at a Maori Weka-hunter^s camp, I saw a heap of about fifteen 

 hundred Wekas, prepared in their own fat, the result of scarcely 

 more than a fortnight^s hunting of seven men. They all 

 belonged to what I call Ocydromus troglodytes. The other 

 kind, Ocydromus australis, I got only a few times in the 

 North Island, where this species is generally of a rare occur- 

 rence. The most common of all grallatorial birds is Por- 

 phyrio melanonotus (the Pukeko of the natives), which I met 

 with nearly everywhere, except in the woods. Near Oamaru 

 I saw about a hundred or more on an open prairie-like plain, 

 not far from a farmhouse ; they were plentiful even in the 

 valley of the Tasman, near to the foot of Mount Cook, in the 

 swamps of the Waikato, and on the Kotomahana. In con- 

 trast Avith many other birds in New Zealand the Pukeko is 

 shy. It is a favourite object of pursuit, as its flesh is excel- 

 lent, and by many preferred even to that of the Pheasant — 

 an opinion, however, in which I by no means concur. 



I have already mentioned most of the Natatorial birds, but 

 I have forgotten two of the most characteristic species, 

 namely, Casarca variegata and Hymenolcemus malacorhynchus, 

 both of which I met with only in the alpine region. Search 

 out a very rapid mountain-river, with whirlpools and rapids. 



