THE GAME-BIRDS AND RAILS 
27 
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. 
Th e Common Water- 
hen, or Moor-hen, is one of 
the most, familiar birds of the 
London parks. Although fre- 
quent enough to be seen 
upon streams and broads, 
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 are gorgeously clad in purple, shaded with dark green, olive-brown, and black. 
M A NT ell’s Gallinule of 
New Zealand is probably now 
extinct, the last bird having 
_ been killed in 1898. 
Photo by Scholastic Photo, Co.] 
WEKA-RAIL 
The ^vingSj though fairly large^ are useless for flight 
[/’ar/on'j Green 
Photo by IV. F. Piggoti] iLeighlon ISux,xard 
WATER-RAIL 
This is a common British bird, seldom seen, on account of its retiring habits 
These are little-known 
birds, 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. 
The Fin-eeet 
