[11] Parrakeet. Kakariki. (Platycercus novæ Zealandiæ.)—A small green parrot, red on the top of the head. The parakeets climb about in large flocks on the tops of the trees, feeding on seeds and berries. They are most amiable towards each other, chattering the whole day, feeding and kissing.—A. R.
[12] Maori Hen. Weka. (Ocydromus earli.)—A bird rather smaller than a common hen; plumage brown. It is the most inquisitive, cunning, and mischievous of all the New Zealand birds. During the day it hides in burrows or in thick scrub, from which, however, it emerges as soon as it hears any unusual noise; it then hides behind a log, stone, or tree-root, whence it watches all proceedings, calling to its mate with a booming noise. Any small, bright article, such as a knife, watch, or bunch of keys laid aside, the Maori hen will at once pick up and carry off with delight to its hiding place. When near a farm-house, this bird, as soon as it hears a domestic hen cackle, will watch its opportunity to run to the place and carry off the egg she has laid, to eat it at leisure. In the forest the Maori hens watch the birds building their nests in order to steal their eggs. If a young bird or a rat is not sufficiently on the alert, it will be seized at once and devoured, or should a lizard or a grub cross their path, or a fish come too near the shore, they seldom escape the eye of these vigilant birds. When chased by a dog the Maori hen will run into its hole and slip out by another opening, and, screened perhaps by a bush or fern, will watch the dog digging for it.—A. R.
[13] White Heron. Kotuku. (Ardea alba.)—There is a Maori saying, that the Kotuku, or White Heron, is like a great chief, seen only once in a lifetime. These birds inhabit the rivers on the west coast of the South Island, proudly stepping up and down the shore, or standing knee deep in the water, with neck drawn in and head bent downwards to be ready to make a dart should any fish venture too near. In November the White Herons leave the rivers and congregate at one of the old breeding-places on the shores of secluded inland lakes, where they sit about on the crowns of tree-ferns or branches of trees near their nests; if any enemy approaches, the birds begin in chorus a strange croaking noise. It is a beautiful sight to see the long-legged, snow-white creatures sitting amongst the green foliage, the whole picture clearly reflected in the dark still water.—A. R.
[14] Wairakei Valley.—K. C.
[15] The Eagle’s Nest Geyser.—K. C.
[16] The hot-springs and geysers of New Zealand are chiefly found over a broad belt of country stretching from the great volcanic mountains near the centre of the North Island, in a north-easterly direction to the Bay of Plenty. Hot-springs occur in tens of thousands over this area, showing every variety; the water of some is only pleasantly warm, so that they serve as natural baths, others are at a boiling temperature; the geysers are boiling springs which act intermittently, now throwing up a column of water fountain-like into the air, now sinking to rest for a longer or shorter time.—A. P. W. T.
[17] Swamp Hen. Pukeko. (Porphyrio melanotus.)—About the size of a fowl: plumage of a black and blue colour, with a red bill and long red legs. These birds inhabit swamps, or the shallow shores of lakes, where they stalk about with tails erect, their white undercoverts showing out conspicuously from the dark plumage. Where they are often disturbed, a few are always on the watch, whilst others feed, and on the approach of danger the watchers give a note of alarm and all disappear in the swamp. When plentiful near a cultivation they are destructive to crops of grain, as they eat the young shoots.—A. R.
The Terraces.