52 
The Emu. 
Porphyrio melanonotus in New Zealand. 
By J. C. M'Lean, Gisborne, N.Z. 
The land birds which are common to New Zealand and the 
Australian continent are few in number ; and, although we in 
New Zealand receive occasional stragglers of some Australian 
species, they do not appear to obtain a footing. 
Perhaps Zosterops ccvrulescens is the only bird which has made 
a home for itself after straying from the continent ; but here a 
doubt exists as to whether this species was not at all times a 
resident — migrating from the South Island to the North,* and 
after one or two years becoming a resident of our northern 
island, where to-day it is one of our commonest birds. 
One of our best-known representatives of the Australian 
avifauna is the Swamp Hen or Bald-Coot (Pukeko and Pakura 
of the Maories), Porphyrio melanonotus. 
This handsome Rail is evenly distributed throughout the 
colony, wherever the country is suitable. Its strongholds are 
the dense raupo swamps, but occasional pairs may be found 
along the banks of creeks and rivers where sufficient cover 
exists. Owing to the reclamation of marshy land and the 
clearing of fern and scrub its numbers have decreased consider- 
ably of late years. 
In July, 1888, a party of three guns, in Hawke's Bay, bagged 
62 Pukekos in a day's walking up swampy gullies running off a 
large swamp and lake, and I suppose not more than 60 per cent, 
of the birds shot were picked up. To-day probably not half a 
dozen birds can be seen in that locality. 
Our New Zealand observers remark the appearance of the 
bird in localities where formerly it was unknown. This, I think, 
is accounted for by the fact that land in the vicinity, suitable to 
the Swamp Hen, has been cleared and drained, and the Pukeko 
has sought fresh fields and pastures new. 
In 1888 the bird was quite a rarity in this part, but in 1893 
it appeared more numerous, and seemed to increase up to 1898, 
when it again went back in numbers, and few can now be seen. 
Birds were noted flying and calling at ni^rht (as if migrating) 
during the years 1893, 1894, 1895, and 1896; but for the past 
three years none have been heard. Our Government have, with 
other birds, protected the Pukeko for this season and each 
succeeding fourth season, but I am afraid some other force than 
the gun is responsible for the decrease. 
As a table bird the Pukeko is excellent ; but as a game bird 
affords poor shooting, as the flight is laboured and slow, and it 
is hard to flush. If not mortally wounded, it is practically 
impossible to retrieve. This bird would sooner trust to its legs 
than to its wings for safety, and many a sheep-dog becomes 
proficient in the art of catching the bird. Starting a Swamp 
* See Buller, " Birds of New Zealand," 2nd edition, p. 77. 
