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old and young ; after being released, they stai'ted off, but returned soon after- 

 wards with their ordinary air of inquisitiveness. When two males quarrel, 

 they fight with determination, sometimes coming out into the open ground ; 

 the victor becomes a relentless persecutor, driving off his antagonist at every 

 opportunity ; on these occasions one can appi-eciate 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 figured (see Flate YII.) 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 afibrds a fair indication of their age, 

 the darker shades of brown characterizing extreme youth, yet the lighter shades 

 which their plumage gradually assumes offers great variety. Such is our expe- 

 rience 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 idea 

 is due to the absence of even an apology for a tail, for the caudal plumage is 

 not assumed until half their growth is reached, but whilst they are still under the 

 guidance of the parent birds. Whilst being led foi-th food hunting, the brood 

 is most sedulously attended by the old birds, although perhaps they may not 

 be at one time both close together; insects, worms, lizards, etc., seem their 

 principal food, yet nothing comes amiss to these omnivorse. When an old bird 

 is aware of a lizard lying perdu beneath the sharp pointed leaves of an 

 Aciphylla, the beak is thrust into the plant in defiance of threatened wounds, 

 the wings are suddenly thrust forward, and the adroit Weka backs out with 

 her writhing prey, which the young instantly devour. 



Although mercilessly persecuted, this Ishmael amongst birds may be found or 

 heard in most up-country districts, but in greatly diminished numbers. The size 

 of the Wekas that are now usually met with, is much smaller than it used to be ; 

 a four-pound bird is now almost unknown, yet, years ago, such a weight was 

 not an uncommon one for a fine hill bird. The greatest sin we can lay to its 

 charge, is the ruthless manner with which it destroys ducks' eggs, in which it 

 is second only to the harrier. 



The Weka sometimes, yet rarely, has been noticed to have a white feather 

 or two in the wing. 



As an article of food, it is in far less repute than when we first settled here 

 in the days of dear meat; — (we have since bought sheep at one shilling per head) 

 — our taste is more fastidious, and the Weka is only killed too often for mere 

 wantonness, or the pleasure of taking life. The Maoris of Arowhenua make 

 expeditions in the winter for obtaining a sujDply of these birds, which they 

 preserve in their own fat. On one run, near Burke's Pass, we have been told that 

 above two thousand wekas were secured by a party of natives at one of these hunts. 



