NATURAL HISTORY. 
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several members of it are extinct. The largest kind is the 
ocydromus Australis, the weka, or wood hen of the settlers. 
The breast is of a slate color, the back brown, and speckled; 
it is strongly made, and about the size of a half-grown fowl: 
it is very abundant in the Middle Island, and the southern 
part of the North Isle. The name is taken from its cry. 
The pukeko, or rauhara, (porphyrio melanotus,) is a fine 
bird, about the size of a pullet; it has long red legs and toes, 
with a bill and protuberance above of the same color, some¬ 
what like the guinea-fowl: the back is black, and the breast 
of a bright mazarine blue; the under feathers of the tail are 
pure white, which forms a fine contrast with the black of its 
short tail. This bird has a strong shrill cry, resembling its 
name, flies slowly and heavily, and is a great thief, making 
much havoc in the cultivations. It abounds in swamps and 
along the sides of rivers. The flesh is dry and coarse, seldom 
eaten by the natives, but much esteemed by Europeans, who 
say, that when kept it is exquisite eating. 
Closely allied to this bird is the takahe, the notornis of 
Owen, a large heavy bird of the Middle Island, very rare; it 
stands about two feet high, and is nearly as large as the kiwi. 
It has a short thick beak, and strong legs; the back is black, 
and its neck and body of a dark blue, shaded with green, and 
gold on the wings. The tail is scanty, and white underneath. 
One specimen only has reached this country, which is to be seen 
in tbe British Museum. 
There are several smaller kinds of rail. Of these is the 
katatai, (raulus assimilis,) of a ferugineous color. The rallus 
dieff'enbachii, is about one-third less than the weka; it is 
peculiar to the Chatham Isles, and is a fine bird. Its native 
name is the moeriki. 
Patatai, or popotai, is a small rail, about the size of a 
sparrow, but of a very delicate shape; it is of a light brown 
color, the back spotted with black and white, the breast is of 
a slate colour, beak bright green, eye black, with a red circle; 
it has a very small tail, which is black underneath, with white 
bands; the legs are of a pale green. 
The moho periru, or motarua, a small dark brown rail of 
