33 



spoilt pets, too often in the way. Oiie or both of them would walk 

 into the kitchen ; while one was dodging under the tables and chairs, 

 the other would leap upon the table, keeping the cook in a state of 

 excitement ; or they would be heard chirping in the hall, or walk into 

 the library in search of food or information, or walk up stairs, and 

 then be quickly seen descending again, making their peculiar chirping, 

 whistling noise ; not a door could be left open, but in they walked, 

 familiar with all. They kept the servants constantly on the alert : if 

 the servant went to open the door, on turning round she found a 

 " Mooruk " behind her ; for they seldom went together, generally 

 wandering apart from each other. If any attempt was made to 

 turn them out by force, they would dart rapidly round the room, 

 dodging about under the tables, chairs, and sofas, and then end by 

 squatting down under a sofa or in a corner ; and it was impossible to 

 remove the bird, except by carrying it away : on attempting this, the 

 long, powerful, muscular legs would begin kicking and struggling, and 

 soon get released, when it would politely walk out of its own accord. 

 I found the best method was to entice them out, as if you had some- 

 thing eatable in the hand, when they would follow the direction in 

 which you wished to lead them. They sometimes also give a smart 

 kick to any person attempting to turn them out forcibly. The house- 

 maid attempting to turn the bird out of one of the rooms, it gave her 

 a kick and tore her dress whilst she was very politely driving him 

 before her. They walk into the stable among the horses, poking 

 their bills into the manger. When writing in my study, a chirping, 

 whistling noise is heard ; the door, which was ajar, is pushed open ; 

 and in walk the " Mooruks," who quietly pace round the room, in- 

 specting everything, and then as peaceably go out again. If any 

 attempt is made to turn them out, they leap and dodge about, and 

 exhibit a wonderful rapidity of movement, which no one would sup- 

 pose possible from their quiet gait and manner at other times. Even 

 in the very tame state of these birds, I have seen sufficient of them 

 to know that, if they were loose in a wood, it would be impossible to 

 catch them, and almost as difficult to shoot them. One day, when 

 apparently frightened at something that occurred, I saw one of them 

 scour round the yard at a swift pace, and speedily disappear under 

 the archway so rapidly that the eye could hardly follow it, upsetting 

 all the poultry in its progress, as they could not get out of the way. 

 The lower half of the stable-door, about 4 feet high, was kept sliut 

 to prevent them going in ; but this proved no obstacle, as it was 

 easily leaped over by these birds. They never appeared to take any 

 notice of, or be frightened at, the Jabiru or Gigantic Crane, which 

 was in the same yard, although that sedate, stately bird was not 

 pleased at their intrusion. One day I remarked the Jabiru spread- 

 ing his long wings, and clattering his beak, opposite one of the 

 "Mooruks," as if in ridicule of their wingless condition. " Mooruk," 

 on the other hand, was pruning its feathers and spreading out its 

 funny little apology for wings, as if proud of displaying the stiff 

 horny shafts with which they were adorned. The " Mooruks " often 

 throw up all their feathers, ruffling them ; and then they suddenly 

 No. 386. — Proceedings of the Zoological Society. 



