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Varieties. Examples from different localities exhibit so much variety in size and plumage as to suggest the 
existence of another, closely allied species. Mr, Potts says that when he was “ camping in one of the 
gorges of the Rangitata, a very striking variety used to visit the tent constantly : the individuals of either 
sex were above the average size ; the general colour of the phrmage light greyish brown, the feathers marked 
or barred with shades of dark brown; the rump, and in some instances the tips of the primaries, rich chest- 
nut ; throat and cheeks grey.” 
Albinoes, more or less pure, are occasionally met with. The ' Canterbury Press ^ recorded the capture 
of one, on the Pour-Peaks run, by one of Mr. Walker's shepherds. This beautiful bird had the entire 
plumage ashy white, with obsolete spots and markings of pale grey, the bill and legs pale red, and the irides 
reddish brown. It was forwarded to England by the Canterbury Acclimatization Society as a gift to the 
Zoological Society, but did not long survive its arrival in the Gardens. 
In the Otago Museum I examined a beautiful series of albinoes : — No. 1, obtained near Lake Wakatipu, 
has the whole of the plumage creamy white, being very soft and silky to the touch ; on close examination, 
and on moving the covering plumage aside, there is the faintest indication of colour, with obsolete markings 
on the webs but very indistinct ; the shafts of the quills pure white. Bill whitish horn-colour. Peet appear 
to have been originally red, with paler toes; ii'ides stated as red. No. 2 is a less pure albino, also from 
Lake Wakatipu, presented to the Museum by Miss White. General plumage silver-grey, shading into 
greyish brown on the head and throat, and again on the breast and abdomen ; all the markings that are 
brown and black in the ordinary bird are represented in this by darker shades of grey, having a washed-out 
appearance, but not faded, the Avhole of the plumage being delicately harmonized. On the quills there is 
a faint wash of chestnut, and, in a lesser degree, on the under surface of the tail-feathers. Bill and feet as in 
ordinary examples. No. 3 (from South laud) shows a progressive step, the whole of the plumage being of a 
rich tawny colour, brightest on the forehead and breast, and shading into grey on the abdomen; the quills 
are handsomely barred wdtli chestnut-brown; the plumage of the flanks and under tail-coverts similarly 
marked, but obscurely ; the lores are whitish, and around the eyes there is a shade of grey which imparts 
to the face a very expressive look. Bill light horn-colour; feet as in the ordinary bird. No. 4 is similar 
to the last, but of a somewhat darker shade, with the obsolete markings on the plumage more pronounced, 
although the bars on the quills are not quite so distinct, whilst on the tail-feathers these markings are hardly 
perceptible. The dark shade around the eyes is absent, and the face has consequently a less coquettish look 
about it. Bill uniform yellow horn-colour ; feet as in the last. 
I have seen an example in pied plumage, similar to the partial albino of Ocydromus greyi mentioned at 
page 106, that is to say, with straggling pure white feathers all over the body. 
A specimen obtained by M. Eilhol, and now in the Natural History collection at the Jardin des Plantes, 
has the entire plumage pale cinnamon-brown, shaded with dull rufous. 
Much of what I have said in treating of the North-Island Woodhen is equally applicable to the 
present species, which is spread all over the South Island, being exti’emely plentiful in certain 
localities. It has never been met with in the North Island as an indigenous bird, although of late 
years it has been successfully acclimatized by Sir George Grey at Kawau, where, on account of its 
predatory habits, it has already become a nuisance. 
The tendency of this bird to vary, in a very remarkable degree, has occasioned much difficulty in 
discriminating the form. The North-Island species, on the contrary, is very distinct in character 
from the other species, exhibiting only a slight degree of individual variation. 
It has the same general habits as the North-Island Weka, and its cry is exactly similar. It differs, 
however, conspicuously in its nature, being as bold and fearless as the former species is timid and 
retiring. It frequents the settler’s homestead, enters the farmyard, and occasionally ventures inside 
the shepherd’s hut, in its prosecution of certain thievish propensities. Many amusing stories are told 
of its carrying off, out of pure inquisitiveness, such things as forks and spoons, tin pannikins, clasji- 
knives, and meerschaum pipes, &c. At Alford Forest it is said to have levanted with a silver watch 
(afterwards accidentally recoi'ered) from a bushman’s hut ; and on another occasion one of these 
