A NATURALIST'S PAKADISE 71 



the water in search of their prey. Mockmocks (Anthor- 

 nis melanura) sang sweetly in the wooded ravines. 

 Wild pigeons (Corpophaga novcezealandice), as large as 

 half-grown domestic fowls, flew high overhead, whis- 

 tling with their wings, or sat upon the topmost branches 

 of the highest trees. Oyster-catchers (Hcematopus long- 

 irostris) ran along the sand, uttering their piping cry. 

 Paradise "ducks" (Casarca variegata), in reality a 

 handsome species of goose, grazed in the meadows in 

 pairs, and flew to meet the intruder as if a gun were 

 unknown. Wekas ( Ocydromus australis) or Maori hens 

 with wings too small for flight, skulked among the 

 bushes, or came running toward us as we ate our 

 luncheon under the trees. Little yellow-breasted robins 

 (Petroeca albifrons) scratched among the dead leaves 

 for worms, and were so astonishingly tame as some- 

 times to alight upon our hats or gun-barrels as we 

 wandered through the thick growths. 



Shelley and I were in our element. We would start 

 off early in the morning, and after shooting all we could 

 carry, would return and make skins of our captures, 

 sitting under the trees near the house where we had 

 set up our boxes. 



Many times while thus engaged, the Maori hens 

 would come out and watch for a chance to run off with 

 our tools. They are the cheekiest birds I have ever 

 seen. They would steal a man's blanket or the buttons 

 off his clothes while he slept, if they had the chance. 



