192 THE ANIMALS OF NEW ZEALAND 



water. As a rule, about five eggs, are laid in the nest, but the 

 number varies consideral^ly. The young run about as soon as 

 they are hatched, and. when disturbed, conceal themselves with 

 much art. They are thickly clothed with black, velvety down, 

 interspersed with fine hair-like points of silver grey. The legs are 

 dullish red, and the beak has a yellowish ivory appearance, which 

 contrasts with the colour of the body. When feeding, the pukeko 

 often lifts the food to its mouth with its claw, as a parrot does. 

 Its flesh is very palatable, and the bird is therefore the object of 

 many shooting expeditions. It feeds chiefly in the early morning 

 and in the evening, hiding itself away among the flax bushes in 

 the day time. Vegetable substances form its principal food, but 

 it also eats insects. The pukeko is easily tamed, and, when kept 

 Avith domestic fowds, makes friends with them. 



The Chatham Island Swamp Hen. 



Poyplnjrio cliathamensis. 



Like the last, but the breast is bright blue. Length of the wiug, 

 10.3 in.; of the tarsus, 3.7 in. Chatham Islands. 



Genus Notornis. 



Bill short and deep, compressed, the frontal shield produced 

 backwards over the eye. Wings short, the quilLs soft, the third 

 to the seventh equal and longest; the wing coverts much 

 elongated, nearly hiding the quills, which are not much longer 

 than the secondaries. Legs and feet strong ; the tarsas as long as 

 the middle toe with claw. Hind toe short and elevated ; the 

 claws hooked. New Zealand and Norfolk Island. 



Takahe.* 



Xotornis lioclistetteri. 



Above olive green, with some blue shading. Wings blackish blue. 

 Head, neck, and lower surface dark purplish blue; under tail-coverts 

 white. Length of the wing, 9 in.; of the tarsus, 3.7 in. South-west 

 portion of the South Island. 



* Mr. James Cowan, of the Government Tourist Department, states that the Maoris 

 of the South say that this word is " Tabahea." 



