3090 Tue ZooLocist—J une, 1872. 
either sex were above the average size; the general colour of the 
plumage light grayish brown; the feathers marked or barred with 
shades of dark brown; the uropygium, and in some instances the 
tips of the primaries, rich chestnut; throat and cheeks gray. The 
young were dark brown, perhaps not to be distinguished readily, if 
at all, from the young of the ordinary brown weka. 
Some months since, a specimen with the entire plumage of pure 
white, was caught alive at Mount Four Peaks; the legs and bill 
pale red; irides reddish brown ;—not the light pink that is charac- 
teristic of the albino. 
One of the best walkers amongst our birds, the weka’s step is 
usually deliberate and slow; its carriage is particularly noticeable, 
it is so remarkably bold and confident, yet wary; the neck raised, 
with the head carried forward with a listening and yet contemplative 
air, one is loth to believe that the bird is such a mischievous rogue. 
When at full speed the neck is extended, the head lowered, with 
the point of the beak slightly depressed; if pursued, it turns and 
doubles rapidly, availing itself of any shelter in which to find 
refuge. It regains confidence quite as readily as it exhibits fear, 
and if left in peace, emerges from its place of concealment with the 
same coolness of demeanour that usually distinguishes it. We have 
caught a whole family of old and young; after being released they 
started off, but returned soon afterwards with their ordinary air of 
inquisitiveness. When two males quarrel they fight with determi- 
nation, sometimes coming out into the open grouud; the victor 
becomes a relentless persecutor, driving off his antagonist at every 
opportunity : on these occasions one can appreciate the speed and 
alertness which both pursuer and pursued display, in getting over 
the ground and threading the interlaced maze of shrubs and grassy 
tussocks. 
The nest is placed amongst the sheltering leaves of snow-grass 
tussocks, in which the roughly-finished home of the weka is 
frequently constructed. 
The colour of the down of the young affords a fair indication of 
their age, the darker shades of brown characterizing extreme youth, 
yet the lighter shades which their plumage gradually assumes, offer 
great variety. Sucli is our experience after quietly looking at 
some scores of broods; there is in their early stage of growth a 
resemblance to the Cochin China chick about them—this would be 
stronger but for their smooth tarsi and dusky hue; perhaps this 
