Best. — Maori Forest Lore. 265 



side or cliff overlooking a stream or lake. They will roost on the same 

 tree for many years, leaving it in the morning to go in search of food, and 

 returning to it in the evening. Such a tree, that stood on the banks of the 

 Wai-kohu River in the seventies, was the roost of a flock of about sixty 

 kawau. These shaggeries, being usually situated on cliffs or steep sidelings, 

 are termed pari kawau. Shaggeries were carefully preserved and some- 

 times rahuitia by the owners of the land, and resorted to every year for 

 the purpose of securing the young birds. There was a famous one at 0- 

 whaka-toro, and another, named Whakatangihau, near the 0-karika Stream. 

 Both of these were mentioned in Court by Natives establishing their claim 

 to those lands. Kawau moe roa is a term applied to bird-snares, eel-pots, 

 and such nets as are left in the water (not merely dragged). Apparently 

 these are likened to the " long-slumbering kawau " that sits quietly for 

 hours on a log in a river, but is wide awake when a fish heaves in sight. 

 The nest of this bird is a rough affair. 



Captain Cook speaks of broiling and eating some shags at Whitianga. 

 " They afforded us an excellent meal," he says. But, after all, what is 

 the matter with a beefsteak, or even stewed pigeon ? And that is all 

 right. 



A small species of cormorant is known as the kawau tatarariki. These 

 smaller kawau are said to represent or be the form of incarnation of an atua 

 maori termed Waerore. 



I'^When a shag is about to take flight it stretches out its long neck stiff 

 and straight, and so flies. Hence the saying, " Ka maro te kaki o te kawau " 

 (The neck of the kawau is stiffened), applied to a person or party just about 

 to start on a journey. The expression kawau maro, as applied to several 

 columns of troops joining together to form a solid column for the war-dance, 

 has a similar origin. 



Kea. — The kea, says Paitini, has disappeared. It was a bird that lived 

 in open country. It was smaller than a kaka, and had a different sort of 

 bill. He mea ahua whero taua manu (Of a brown or reddish colour). 



Kereru {Hemiphaga novce-zealandice ; Pigeon). — We have not much to 

 say about this well-known bird until we come to describe the methods of 

 taking the three principal food-supply birds — the kereru, kaka, and koko. 



It is known to most of us that rupe is a kind of emblematical name for 

 the pigeon. The local Natives cannot distinguish the sexes of this bird — 

 at least, they have no names for the two sexes. Occasionally nests of the 

 pigeon are found in this district, but not often. They are mostly found 

 in small trees, and about 10 ft. or 12 ft. from the ground. To find a pigeon's 

 nest is looked upon here as an omen of ill fortune, of death or sore affliction 

 for the finder. It is also an evil omen to hear a pigeon calling at night. 

 He tatai mate tena, he aitua. 



A tree much frequented by pigeons is termed a rakau tipapa {ti= whaka, 

 a causative prefix). Such a tree is usually a taumatua, for which see post, 

 under " Snaring." 



When these birds become fat in winter the expression " Kua whaturua 

 te kereru " is heard, meaning that the birds are in good condition, having 

 plenty of fat on the intestines. They get very fat in some seasons when 

 there are plenty of toromiro berries, &c. Both the pigeon and kol;o {tui) 

 are very fond of the berries of the white inaire {maire rau nui), hut do not 

 fatten thereon. They were often snared on those trees. The koko also 

 •eats the berries of the maire roro, but the pigeon never does so. When 

 pigeons are feeding on leaves, as those of the kowhai, puruhi (houhi ongaonya, 



