94 BIRDS OF THE WATER 



family of Pukeko. They are delightful 

 pets, and pets, moreover, in absolute free- 

 dom who will assert themselves and not 

 be content to tamely starve like the 

 wretched guinea pigs, canaries, and rabbits 

 of our youth. 



What a life was that of the rabbit of 

 boyhood's days, embraced, forgotten, re- 

 membered with remorse, more cruel still, 

 crammed with dank meadow grass, long, 

 rank, poisonous, growTi in deepest shade! 



By mid- April Budget was a very hand- 

 some bird in her smooth blue plumage, 

 yellowish-red legs and cherry-red frontal 

 plate or beak. She — we believe her to be a 

 lady — with her three companions — "Toddy," 

 "Jack," and "Gill"— all grew up to be 

 fine specunens, and when the younger ones 

 were able to fly, they w^ere gradually 

 weaned from their early quarters among 

 the flower beds, and made to understand 

 that the garden was tapu. 



Pukekos are no respectors of shrubs and 

 flowers, and trample the former with their 

 great feet and tear up the latter with their 



