169 



In the day-time it moves about under thick cover with a stealthy gait, and continually flirts 

 its tail upwards after the manner of the true Rails. The tail-feathers are of peculiar texture, 

 having stiff shafts with loose disunited barbs ; and in some specimens the shafts are found denuded 

 at the tips for the space of nearly an inch. In skinning this bird, one is struck with the extraordi- 

 nary development of the tibial muscles as compared with the humeral, betokening at once the 

 habits of life already described. The skin is very tough, and adheres firmly to the body, espe- 

 cially on the thighs. There is another circumstance worth mentioning — namely that some Wekas 

 have a strong inherent odour, which communicates itself to the hand if rubbed along the plumage, 

 and does not entirely leave the dried skin, while others are wholly free from it. It is not depen- 

 dent on sex, nor is it peculiar to any season of the year ; but where it does exist, it differs percep- 

 tibly in degree in different examples. Possibly this may result from the long-continued occupation 

 of a burrow rendered foul by the omnivorous habits of the bud. 



It commences to breed early in September ; for on the 30th of that month I saw a fine 

 Weka chick at Archdeacon Hadfield's house, at Otaki, and another at Wanganui some days 

 earlier. 



As already stated, the Woodhen often converts its burrow into a breeding-place ; but the 

 following description of a nest found on the banks of the Manawatu river will show that other 

 situations are sometimes selected. An aged kahikatea in tumbling to the ground had fallen 

 athwart a huge gnarled stump, and remained in that position. Under the shelter afforded by the 

 overlying trunk and among the knotted roots of the supporting stump the Weka had placed her 

 nest, forming it of dry flags of the puwharawhara {Astelia cunninghamii) loosely arranged. The 

 nest was so admirably concealed by a growth of ferns that nothing but accident could have led to 

 its discovery. It contained two eggs, which is the usual number, although I have occasionally 

 met with a nest of three. These are slightly ovoido-conical in form, measuring 2 - 4 inches in 

 length by 1*7 in breadth, and are of a creamy white colour, marked all over, but especially at the 

 larger end, with small obscure spots of purple and brown. Examples differ slightly both in size 

 and form ; and in some the markings at the thick end assume a rounded well-defined character, 

 similar to those which adorn the eggs of Mallus philippensis. 



