BIRDS 
68 
short ; and the beak about two inches long, ad- 
mirably adapted for the purpose of procuring its 
subsistence ; as it lives by suction, thrusting its 
beak to the roots of the reeds and rushes upon 
which it feeds. The plants, whose roots have 
been attacked by this bird, turn of a dark brown, 
and sometimes entirely wither away. The eye is 
red and glaring ; and has a ring round it, com- 
posed of light-brown feathers, which gives the 
bird an angry and fretful appearance. It makes 
a screaming noise in the night ; and is but rarely 
caught, or even seen. 
Pukunui—A bird so called from the largeness 
and rotundity of its breast, about the size of 
the crow, and remarkable for the deep red with 
which the feathers are tinged upon the back and 
under the wings. Its legs are about five inches 
long, and rather slender for the size of the body. 
Its beak is like that of the feldfare ; and the eye 
of a light-brown colour, with a ring of white 
round it. These birds are never found in the 
woods ; but on the sides of brooks, and in barren 
land, amongst the stunted fern. By the natives’ 
account, they seek for their food by turning over 
the pebbles or small pieces of dried marl, under 
which they discover worms, which are their favou- 
rite food. The female lays four eggs, spotted with 
brown upon a light-brown ground; and makes 
her nest in the shrub called Kahikatoa (^Lepto- 
spermum scoparium). They are here well shelter- 
ed from the wind and rain, on account of the 
