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THE ANIMALS OF NEW ZEALAND 



She became so tame that she would walk round his dog, and come 

 into the tent, and, on a second visit to the camp, he found that she 

 still hanntecl the place. On one occasion, at daylight, he was 

 awakened by a noise, and, on looking up, saw one of these birds 

 amusing itself with his slippers, but, on his moving, she retired. 



The breeding season is in January, when the birds lay from two 

 to three eggs. Mr. Reischek saw in April two females, with three 

 young birds each, fully feathered. The young were duller in 

 plumage, and smaller in size than the parents. The male and 

 female do not differ in plumage, but there is a slight difference in 

 size, the latter being the smaller. These birds vary much in 

 plumage, but the jet black ones are rare. 



South Island Wood Hen. 



Finsch's Wood Ken. 



Ocydromus finsch i. 



Brownish black, with spots of buff on the outer margins of each 

 feather. Throat, abdomen, and thighs dark grey. Quills banded on 

 both webs with dull rufous. Middle tail feathers brownish black, the 

 outer ones with spots of buff on the margins of the webs. Eye reddish 

 brown. Length of the wing, 7 in.; of the tarsus, 2.3 in. Te Anau 

 district, South Island. 



