BIRDS 
62 
the skin is taken off, which is always done for the 
sake of wearing a tuft of the feathers in the ear, 
the flesh is delicious. 
Piikeko — A species of water-hen, the size of a 
well-grown capon. It resides in the swamps ; has 
very long red legs, with three long toes and one 
short toe on each foot. The eye is particularly 
small; the beak broad, very strong, and of a 
deep crimson ; the forehead bare of feathers, 
and of the same deep crimson colour as the 
beak. The plumage of this bird is rather coarse, 
of a dark shaded brown, tinged with green ; ex- 
cept the neck and breast, which are of a deep 
and brilliant purple : it has also a small tuft of fine 
white feathers under the tail, which is very short. 
These birds are not strong in the wing; but 
sometimes fly from their native retreats in the 
morasses, and rob the potato-fields nearest their 
abode ; at which time they are easily snared, and 
great numbers taken. The New Zealanders say 
the flesh is coarse and bitter, and is rejected by 
them as food. 
Kukupa — A large wood-pigeon, very plentiful 
in New Zealand. This is one of the most beau- 
tiful birds the country possesses. It is much 
larger than the largest wild or tame pigeons in 
England, and has a plumage unrivalled among 
the extensive family of doves for splendour and 
variety: green, purple and gold are, however, 
the prevailing colours. It is a heavy-flying bird, 
which makes it an easy prey to the hawks, with 
