The Game-birds and Rails 



413 



have referred. It is about as 

 large as a pheasant, but lacks 

 its splendour, being soberly 

 clad in brown and black. Un- 

 like its relative, it breeds in 

 a burrow, which it digs for 

 itself by the aid of its bill. 

 The name '' weka '' was given 

 it by the Maoris. 



The Common Water-hen, 

 or Moor-hen, is one of the 

 most familiar l.iirds of the 

 London parks. Although fre- 



quent 

 upon 



enough 

 streams 



to be seen 

 and broads. 



I'kuto hij ticlwlasiic Fhoto. Co.] 



[Paj*iO/i'i Gi-crn. 



WEKA-EAIL. 



The wings, though fairly large, are useless for flight. 



are gorgeously clad in purple, shaded with dark green, olive-brown, and 



it is, nevertheless, shy and 



wary ; but in the sanctuary of 



the public parks all reserve is 



thrown off. The water-hen, 



like its allies, is an expert 



swimmer, in spite of the fact 



that the toes are not webbed ; 



on the contrary, they are very 



long and slender. When alarmed, these birds will often submerge the body till only the 



beak projects above water. 



All the members of this group are easily recognised by the bare patch of skin extending 

 from the beak on to the top of the head. In the Coots this is white ; in the Water-hens 

 and Gallinules it is red. The coots and water-hens are clad in sober colours, grey or black; 

 but the gallinules 

 black. ^Iantell's Gtallinule 

 of New Zealand is probably 

 now extinct, the last bird 

 havinar been killed in 1898. 



The Fin-feet. 



These are little-known 

 lairds, found in Africa, South 

 America, South-east Asia, and 

 Sumatra. They are closely 

 related to the coots, but differ 

 therefrom in many important 

 particulars. Like the coots, 

 they are river-haunting birds, 

 and have broad flaps of 

 skin fringing the toes, which 

 serve the purpose of a 

 web ; but they have much 

 longer necks and tails than 

 the coots and water-hens. 

 Not much is known about 

 them. 



Photo it/ W. F. Fujgott] 



ILei'jhion Buzzard. 

 WATER-KAIL. 



This is a common British hird, seldom seen, on account of its retiring habits. 



