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distinguishing characters in his proposed scheme for the classification of birds, under the two 
divisions of Carinatce and Matitce*. 
The Woodhen is seminocturnal in its habits, and during the day usually remains concealed in 
the thick fern or scrub which covers its haunts, or takes refuge in a hollow log or other natural 
cavity. Sometimes, however, it excavates a home for itself underground, the work being performed 
entirely with the hill and with great rapidity, as I have frequently had an opportunity of observing. 
These subterranean burrows are often of considerable length, and not only serve as a diurnal retreat, 
but furnish also a convenient breeding-place. 
This species is comparatively plentiful in the snow-country adjacent to Ruapehu and Tongariro, 
notwithstanding the severity of the climate at this altitude during a large portion of the year. As is 
well known, several berry-producing trees, such as the totara and the kahikatea, reappear on these 
mountain-heights in a remarkably dwarfed form, being indeed little more than scrub spreading over 
the ground. These diminutive representatives of forest-growths nevertheless produce berries of the 
full size, and these being accessible from the ground are eagerly sought after by the Woodhen, which 
becomes at this season excessively fat, and is in great demand among the Maoris in consequence. 
When proving, in the Native Land Court, the tribal title to this country, where, owing to the extreme 
poverty of the soil, it was difficult to discover the necessary acts of ownership in former times on the 
part of the claimants or their ancestors, I was always glad to fall back upon evidence of Weka- 
hunting within the disputed boundaries, as affording proof of ancient title. 
As we descend from the mountain-slopes to the Murimotu dowms — the land of the snow-grass 
and tussock — the Woodhen becomes less numerous, but in the widely scattered clumps of bush a few 
of them are always to he met with. In one of these localities, at the back of Mr. Moorhouse’s 
station, I found that they had been digging up and feeding upon the so-called vegetable caterpillar 
{Cordiceps rolertsii), which was unusually abundant there. 
As the evening shades begin to cover the land, the first note to be heard in the scrubby plains or 
at the edge of the darkening forest is the cry of the Weka, two of them invariably calling in concert. 
The female leads off with a sharp shrill whistle, followed before she has half finished by the male, 
the cry commencing with a peculiar growling note, like c-r-r-u, which breaks into a whistle. These 
cries are repeated by both several times in rapid succession, and then for a few minutes the birds are 
quiet ; again the shrill clamour and a pause ; and so on till the darkness of advancing night has 
silenced for a time even the vigilant Weka, and all around is still. 
♦ The late Professor Garrod sent me the following valuable communication on the same subject : — “ In its osteology and 
visceral anatomy, as well as in its myology, Ocydromus agrees completely with the Rails ; and its close relationship to Trihonyx is 
undoubted. The peculiarities depend on the reduction in the development of the anterior extremities, which causes the typically 
ralline sternum to be much reduced in size and the coracoid bones to be separated at their lower ends. The slenderness of the 
furcula, which is also peculiarly large, depends on the same cause. As in the tj'pical Rallidm, the skuU is sohizognathous and 
holorhinal ; in other words, the maxillo-palatino bones of either side do not anchylosc along the middle line, and the nasal bones 
are not split up as in the true Waders or the Gulls. The vomer is well developed, and reaches forward, as far as the anterior 
border of the maxillo-palatines ; it is bifid behind. The wing-bones are feebly developed, and those of the leg are unusually 
strong. The poUex carries a long claw ; the hallux is small and raised at its base. 
“ There are two carotid arteries as in the Rails ; and the cseca of the intestine are just three inches long, the intestine itself 
being a little over two feet from pylorus to anus. The gizzard is weak ; the oil-gland on the coccyx carries a densely feathered 
tuft at its apex. 
“ So many features have they in common, that it would be difficult for any one to bring convincing arguments against the 
statement tkat Ocydromus is one of the nearest allies of the Apteryx. This similarity may be the simple result of similar influ- 
ences acting on different natures, the diminished necessity for the use of the anterior limbs allowing them to dwindle in both. 
But, with the facts of geographical distribution to back it, the opinion may be fairly maintained that Apteryx and Ocydromus had 
the same ancestor not far back in time. It may be said that the pelvis is very different ; but the same remark partly applies to 
Timmius, an undoubted ally, and a bird also most probably of the same stock, though residing so far off.” 
