BIRDS OF NEW ZEALAND IN ORDER OF SIZE 51 
Island. Distinguished by narrow pointed tail, feathers, 
central. feathers projecting only three inches. (Charadrii- 
formes. ) fari¥ert-o 
20 in. Ne (Hemiphaga novaesee- 
landiae). Head golden green. Upper parts coppery purple, 
back greyish green. Tail greenish black. Under parts pure 
white from breast downwards. Legs carmine red. Flight 
laboured, loud beating of wings. Peculiar soaring flight in 
breeding season. Haunts thick bush. Reposes on thick 
branches of trees, tail drooping half spread, wings folded, 
head drawn in. When alarmed shoots out neck and sways 
to and fro cooing. Getting searce. Strictly arboreal. Dis- 
tinguished from imported Pigeon by much larger size and 
magnificent colouring, white breast, etc. The imported 
Pigeon is not included in list, as never truly wild merely , 
Gerace reatgs Biggon yun wild. (Charadriiformes.> Cobol form i 
20.5 in. Southern Merganser (Promergus australis). Head 
brown, rufous tinge on throat. Head crested. M. more 
brown on throat. Upper parts dark grey, speculum white. 
M. has more white on wing. Under parts grey and white 
markings on breast. Lower parts white. M. paler. Legs 
orange. Flies well although wings short. Haunts, sheltered 
harbours. Catches fish diving. Only sea duck in New 
Zealand. Seen op ads Auckland Island, never Mainland. 
(An soriformes. fairont : a 4 
Joedee ee 7 en_(Galliratlus 
australis). Head bright rufous (tawny). Tawny streaked 
brownish black under parts. F. speckled darker and smaller 
size. Under parts dull ash colour. Breast tinged rufous. 
Legs pale brown, dark claws. Incapable of flight. Haunts 
gullies, marshy banks, swamps, sand dunes, and bush. Runs 
very swiftly, moves with stealthy gait, flirting tail upwards. 
iss Semi-nocturnal. Cry r Alike opening notes of thrush’s song, but 
9,9, Wired “much louder... th rf Island, and_parts.of+the 
we 
a South Island. (Gruiformes. 
a. V7- 21 in. Swamphen or Pukeko (Porphyrio melanotus). Head 
* and nape sooty black. Irides cherry red. Upper parts shiny 
black, glossed green. F. smaller. Breast indigo blue. 
Abdomen sooty black. Tail coverts white. Legs pale red. 
Rises awkwardly, legs dangling, wings flapping hurriedly, 
flight becomes steadier but laboured and heavy. Haunts 
marshes, lagoons, banks of water, streams, and open fields. 
Runs actively, when pressed flies a short distance. Semi-. 
nocturnal. When feeding holds food like aTzoy 
brach | 
* @ ruiformes.) Plliferme-D 
22 in. Black Woodhen (Gallirallus ypterus). Head j 
ash coloured striped brown. Upper parts brownish black 
margined rufous brown, tail feathers black without mark. 
