THE WOOD HENS 183 



spurs are pointed forwards. During a combat, tliey injure most 

 the back of the head. If examined afterwards, the wounds are 

 found to have been inflicted on only the head and neck. Along 

 with the bruises j)roduced by the hard bill, there are punctures 

 caused by the wing-spurs. The punctures are always more 

 numerous at the base of the bill, and about the eyes, and rarely 

 extend down the neck. The effects of these bouts are noticeable 

 for several days, the little spitfires going about with hard and 

 swollen heads and stiff necks, carried well forward. When plenty 

 of cold w^ater is available, however, they bathe their heads, and, 

 rapidly making a recovery, are again eager for the fray. The 

 females, it is stated, do not use their spurs very much, one of the 

 parties to the quarrel generally running away, hotly pursued by 

 its assailant. The chase is often kept up till both are exhausted. 

 The males, being more pugnacious, do not run so readily. Though 

 wekas are flightless, they are remarkably quick on their legs. If 

 pursued, they turn and double rapidly, taking advantage of every 

 shelter until a proper refuge is found. 



They are not easily flustered, as a rule. After being chased, 

 they will emerge from a place of concealment with a look of 

 Titter unconcernedness. Captain Cook was struck with their 

 boldness when he saw some at Dusky Sound on his second voyage. 

 * ' They inhabit the skirts of the woods and feed on the sea-beach, ' ' 

 Jie says "and were so tame, or foolish, as to stand and stare at us 

 till we knocked them down with a stick. ' ' They do not hesitate 

 to attack other birds and cats and rats. A weka has been known 

 to kill a Spanish chicken at one blow. A story is related of a 

 prospector at Lake Brunner, who kept a weka and a rat as pets. 

 They went together every evening at tea-time to get their share 

 of food, and sometimes they quarrelled over it. At last the weka 

 gave the rat a decisive peck on the head, and he tumbled over 

 dead. 



The boldness and inquisitiveness of the wekas are commented 

 on by Lady Barker in her book entitled Station Life in New 

 Zealand. She says : — ' ' I lay back on a bed of fern, watching the 

 numbers of little birds around us. They boldly picked up our 

 crumbs, without a thought of possible danger. Presently I felt 



