100 



straight up, almost perpendiculai- — I sliould say this is the proper position for 

 the bird to be placed in when stuffed. When speaking of lagoons as the 

 places where they are to be found, I may mention that I caught one about 

 two miles in the bush, on the bank of a creek, but the creek led to a lagoon. 

 They live on small fishes or the roots of reeds ; I should say the latter, because 

 at the very place where I caught one, I observed the reeds turned up and the 

 roots gone ; they are very solitary, and always found alone, and stand for 

 hours in one place. I heard a person say that he had opened one and found a 

 large egg in it. They breed on the ground, in very obscure places, and are, on 

 the whole, a rare bird. I never heard their cry." 



The fact that the Little Bittern was noticed by Mr. Ellman, in 1861, was 

 overlooked when this paper was written. Mr. G. R. Gray, in his '' List of 

 the Birds of ISTew Zealand and the Adjacent Islands," p. 24, puts this query, — 

 " What is the Little Bittern, Ellman, Zool., 1861, p. 7469"?" 



In plumage, our Little Bittern of the West Coast rather resembles the 

 American wader {Ardea virescens) than the Little Bittern of Europe. 



No. 87. — OcYDROMus AUSTRALis, Sparrm. 

 (See also Vol. ii., p. 70.) 



The history of the Weka, the Wood-hen of the settlers, is not yet complete ; 

 there exist varieties which are marked, although ornithologists might object to 

 class them as distinct species. 



Whilst camping in one of the gorges of the Rangitata, a very striking 

 variety used to visit the tent constantly ; the individuals of either sex were 

 above the average size ; the general colour of the plumage light greyish 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 grey. The young were dark brown, perhaps not to be distinguished 

 readily, if at all, fi'om the young of the ordinary brown Weka {0. australis). 



Some months since, a specimen with the entire plumage of pure white, was 

 caught alive at Mt. Four Peaks ; the legs and bill pale red ; irides reddish 

 brown ; — not the light pink that is characteristic 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 qxiite 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 



