184 THE ANIMALS OF NEW ZEALAND 



a tug at the shawl on which I was lying. I was too lazy and 

 dreamy to turn my head, so the next thing was a sharp dig on 

 my arm, which hurt me dreadfully. I looked round, and there 

 was a weka, bent on investigating the intruder into its domain. 

 The bird looked so cool and unconcerned that I had not the heart 

 to follow my first impulse and throw my stick at it ; but my 

 forbearance was presently rewarded with a stab on the ankle, 

 which fairly made me jump up with a scream, when my 

 persecutor glided gracefully away among the bushes, leaving me, 

 like Lord Ullin, lamenting." 



These birds are omnivorous and inclined to gluttony. They 

 have a peculiar cry, and sometimes go about at night singing a 

 kind of duet. One call, which is more incessant than the 

 ordinary one, and is repeated at shorter intervals, indicates rain, 

 and is an excellent barometer. The ordinary call is generally led 

 off by the female, and is answered in all directions by both sexes. 

 This, however, it is stated, is peculiar to paired birds before or 

 after mating, as the male or female is often heard solitary, 

 answering others in the distance, while its mate is on the nest. 



In speaking of the weka's good qualities, Mr. W. W. Smith 

 denounces the "ignorant and mistaken prejudice" shown towards 

 this remarkable bird. He finds that too much cannot be said 

 in its favour, and believes that all prejudice would be overcome 

 if proper attention were given to its habits, as ' ' the mere destruc- 

 tion of a few eggs in or near the poultry yard, or the disturliing"^ 

 of a few pheasants in reserves, may be overlooked, wdien it is re- 

 membered that the weka renders inestimable services in destroy- 

 ing vermin." He adds that its struggle for existence is greater 

 than that of any other native bird. ' ' This is owing to thousands 

 perishing annually in the fires that swept over large areas of 

 tussock lauds, to merciless destruction by dog and gun, and, 

 above all, to stoats and weasels. To their credit it must be stated 

 that they are of great service to the squatters (Uid farmers in 

 consuming the larva3 of odontria, which devastate lawns and 

 English grass paddoclvs. When a brood is hatched near paddocks 

 infested with these grubs, the parent birds lead them there, and 

 dig vigorously over the ground, rooting them out Avith their 



