My New Zealand Garden 69 



tough he might be ; but the poor little thing was 

 no dotard, but very tender and good. Another 

 was given us to kill and eat, but we had had 

 enough, and so tried to tame him instead, but he 

 got more unhappy every day, till at last we had 

 to let him go, and I have since heard that they 

 do not stand confinement. 



The New Zealand Quail, which was very 

 plentiful, is nearly extinct now: Bush-fires have 

 burnt it, and dogs, cats, and rats have eaten it, 

 but the Australian and Californian varieties have 

 filled its place. A pair of the latter are very 

 tame here, and every spring successfully bring 

 out a brood of young from some corner of the 

 garden. 



The native Kingfisher is a very conspicuous- 

 looking bird, much larger than the English 

 species, but he is so shrug-shouldered that his 

 figure is rather spoilt. He has some white about 

 him, otherwise his colours are nearly correct. 

 He always chooses a post or rail to sit upon, 

 where he looks very ornamental ; but it is a 

 regrettable fact that from such vantage-ground he 

 has been seen to swoop down and spike tiny 

 chickens. He is also equal to mice and lizards. 

 His vocal powers appear to be confined to three 

 shrieks, or notes, in quick succession, so his 

 personal appearance is his chief attraction. A 

 small Owl flies about the garden towards night; 



