59 



to think (though I am afraid of theorising) that an explanation of the Weka puzzle may be 

 somewhat similar to that which I have long suspected to be the case with Dinomis (using the 

 word in the widest of senses). From the inherent tendency to vary, local forms sprang up, among 

 which there was not enough competition to give any one a decided advantage over another, so as 

 to produce what we ordinarily call ' species.' I think I gave a hint to this effect years ago 

 in regard to the extraordinary variation observable in the bones of the Solitaire of Eodriguez, but 

 I don't mean to say that I then saw the full meaning and importance of it. If New Zealand had 

 got itself broken up into small islands, each one would probably have had its own well-marked 

 Moa and Weka; or if there had been many active enemies preying upon them, that would have 

 hurried on and rendered more marked any differentiation; but, instead of that, the ' environment' 

 went on pretty uniformly, and there was no need for one form to become predominant. You know 

 that I always look upon the word ' species ' as representing a convenient abstraction (in fact, we 

 could not get on without it), but it means nothing more."* 



On exhibiting to the Ornithological Club a collection of the various species of Ocydromus, 

 Dr. Sharpe saidf : u With regard to 0. australis, the question of races was much more difficult, 

 and at first sight it would appear that two well-defined forms could be distinguished— one a sandy- 

 tmted bird, and the other a cinnamon-tinted one. Between these two, however, there appeared to 

 be every possible link and gradation of colour ; so that it was impossible to define any races or sub- 

 species." In 1894, however, Dr. Sharpe saysj : " On looking over a large series, there seems to 

 be a complete intergradation between these two forms [the sandy-buff and the cinnamon-coloured] , 

 which may therefore be only climatic varieties, and the difference in plumage may depend on 

 locality. Sir Walter Buller, in fact, mentions that the Alpine birds are paler than those from 

 the lower country ; but there seem to me to be other forms which, if carefully studied, would 

 probably be found to have a distinctive character and geographical distribution, so that the 

 question of the South Island Weka Bails can by no means be considered settled." 



* Mr. E. Etheridge, jun., in bis; General Zoology of Lord Howe Island,' writes:—" Soon to become extinct on 

 Lord Howe, unless protected, is the Wood-ben, Ocydromus sylvestris, Sclater, a curious and stupid bird. At the 

 present time its range is confined to the extreme southern end of the island in Erskine Valley, and the ground around 

 the sea-girt base of Mount Gower. It is even now rare and difficult to obtain, and would be impossible of capture 

 were it not for the fact that its curiosity overcomes its shyness. Its gradual extinction is probably due to the ravages 

 committed by the wild domestic cats. During a journey to Mount Gower, primarily to procure specimens, only one 

 individual was seen, and during the whole of our residence there, those well acquainted with their haunts could obtain 

 but four others. Ocydromus sylvestris can be attracted within gun-shot by any continuous and varied noise, such as 

 knocking two stones together, striking against a tree, and occasional whistling, and other peculiar but discordant 

 sounds. Mr. E. D. Fitzgerald, Deputy Surveyor-General, during a trip to Mount Gower at the time of Cloete's 

 Expedition, had an excellent opportunity of witnessing the method adopted by the Islanders for catching this bird. 

 His account is as follows : ' Ned suddenly stopped with the exclamation, " That's a wood-hen ! " as a note like two 

 rasps at a saw is beard at some distance among the lower stones and fern. Then he imitates the bird, and the Wood- 

 hen answers. He tries the imitation again, but the bird is silent. Tom strikes the back of the tomahawk against a 

 tree ; again the bird answers. Then the strokes of the tomahawk are of no use, and the barking of a dog is tried with 

 effect, at each time the answer being a little nearer, and so on. Anything that strikes him as strange, say a scrap of 

 the National Anthem by all hands, or the crowing of a cock, or anything else with which the bird is not likely to be 

 acquainted. Nearer and nearer comes the answer, till suddenly out runs a bird, like a large corn-crake, in a daft sort 

 of way, up to their very feet.' " 



t Bull, B.O.C., vol. i., 1892-3, pp. xxix. and xxx. 

 X Cat. Birds, B.M., vol. xxiii., p. 66. 



