Best. — Maori Forest Lore. 277 



termed Jcaha, was stretched tightly a little above the surface of the water, 

 being fastened to stakes thrust into the bed of the lake or stream. To this 

 cord were attached innumerable loop snares {tahei, tahere), which were 

 attached to the main cord so as to hang down and bring the open loop just 

 above the surface of the water. In swimming to and fro the ducks were 

 caught by the neck in this running noose. Favourite feeding-grounds 

 of the duck in lakes or wide river-mouths, &c., were sometimes entirely 

 surrounded with a ring line of snares. 



Maoris do not appear to have been in the habit of taming birds, or 

 keeping them as pets, save in the case of the koko. The kaka were so kept 

 for use as decoys. Occasionally one hears of other birds being tamed, or 

 partially so. For instance, one Tohi-ariki so kept a parera as a mokai or pet, 

 and named it Korotau. On going a journey he left the bird in care of his 

 wife. She neglected to feed it : hence it left the hamlet for pastures new. 

 When Tohi returned he composed the following lament for his lost bird : — 



Kaore te arolia ki takii nei manu 



Titoko tomi ake i te ahiahi 



Ka tomo ki te whare taknate kaix an 



E whae ma. e ! 



Tirohia atii nga parera e tere atu ra 



Ehara tena, he manu maori. 



Waiho me titiro ki te huruhuni whakairoiro 



Mai no tawhiti. 



He rang! an e tatari akuanei 



He raro an e tatari apopo 



Kai hea Korotan ka ngaro nei 



Tena ka riro kai te katokato i te ran pohata 



Ka whakataiore tn nni ki te po me te ao 



Ka oho ai an 



E waiho ana koe hai tiaki hanga 



Hai korero tana ki tona tanraata 



Waiho me ui ake te iwi ngaro. 



Pekapeka (Bat). — The bat is termed a bird by the Maori. They are 

 not often seen in this district. 



The pekapeka was eaten in former times by the Natives. They usually 

 are foixnd living in hollow trees, and in former times, it is said, large numbers 

 frequented such holes. To take them, a fire was kindled in the hole, and 

 the entrance stopped up in order to prevent the escape of the birds. Thus 

 the birds were stupefied by the smoke, and fell to the bottom of the hollow 

 of the tree, where the merry fowler secured them. These resorts of the 

 bat have a powerful and evil odour. The Natives were careful to kill the 

 first bat caught, as this insured a good bag. If this first one escaped, then 

 but few would be taken. 



Pihere ; syn., Karuwai, Kakaruwai, Pitoitoi, Tataruwai, Toutouwai {Miro 

 australis : Robin). — This bird was called pitoitoi on account of its cry 

 (which is rendered by the Maori as " Pitoi-toi-toi"), and karuwai (watery 

 eye) because small drops of water are seen exuding from its eyes. Ngati- 

 Awa and other tribes call these birds pitoitoi ; Tuhoe style them pihere ; 

 while Ngati-Kahungunu, of Te Wairoa, use the name karuivai. Tuhoe call 

 the female of this species mokora. 



The robins practically disappeared from the forests of Tuhoeland years 

 ago, and were rarely seen, though numerous in pre-European days. But 

 in the summer of 1901-2 they reappeared in limited numbers at Rua- 

 tahuna, as also did the rearea, or bell-bird. Mr. R. C. L. Reay, surveyor, 

 writing from Wai-maha, east of Maunga-pohatu, in 1903, stated, " The 



