Best. — Mfion Forest Lore. 473 



Feathers. 



Feathers are termed hwuhuru by the Tuhoe people, but, as this word 

 also means '" hair," the word manu is often added {huruhuru manu) to make 

 matters plain. Another term for " feather " is hou, which does not seem 

 to be used in the Tuhoe district. Plumes, such as were worn in the hair 

 in former times, are termed fihi, rem, raukurn, pare, and kotore. The last 

 expression is applied to long tail-feathers used as ornaments. 



The quill of a feather is called tuaka. The long wing-feathers are termed 

 kira. The long plumes of the albatros (toroa) are called makaka. There 

 are four long feathers or plumes in each wing of the kotuku. These are 

 named the tatarahake, ivhaitin, te ran o titapu (or simply titapu), and — but 

 the fourth we are not sure of. Another authority, but not so reliable a 

 one, says the first one is called kapu and the other three kira. The titapu 

 is a tapu plume. Highly prized also were the very fine, delicate feathers 

 that overlap the long tail-feathers of the kotuku. These are termed awe 

 kotuku. Some further names are given at page 302 of " Maori Art." 



The Singing of Birds. 



In speaking of a bird's note or call, a Native usually uses the term tangi 

 as both verb and noun, but there are several special words to denote the 

 singing of birds. Korihi, "to sing" (of birds only), is one of these, albeit I 

 have not heard it used by the Tuhoe people. The word ko is used by Tuhoe 

 to denote the singing of birds at dawn and eve (about sunset) only. It is 

 not used to denote their singing at any other time. As a rule they emit 

 different notes during the daytime. It implies only the grand concerts 

 given by birds of many species at those times, but more especially the morn- 

 ing one. And how fine they were in former years any one who camped 

 within our forests in the sixties of last century knows full well. Even at 

 Rua-tahuna, four or five years ago, when the koko were numerous, and the 

 bell-bird was reappearing, the morning song of hundreds of birds was a 

 dehghtful thing to hear. These morning and evening concerts were called 

 the Mara o Tane in former times. This use of the word mara (first " a " 

 long, please) is singular. 



The term ko is often heard here : " Ka ko te manu, ka whakatika matau " 

 (When the birds began their morning song we started) : and " Kaore ano i 

 ko te manu " (The birds have not yet begun to sing). 



The word korohiko seems to bear the same meaning as ko, but is not sa 

 often heard. Said my informant, " Ka oho te manu i te ata, ka tangi, he 

 korohiko tena."" We note its use in song : — 



Ko te moe a te manu 

 E korohiko noa ra 

 I te ata hapara. 



Koko, to chant, apparently comes from this root ko, as also the bird- 

 name koko, presumably on account of its song-power, which is great. Aii 

 old-time saying is, " Ko te moe a te manu, au ana te moe ki te peka o te rakau ; 

 ko te moe a te tangata tutaka rerewa tonu i te taua " (The sleep of birds — 

 their sleep is sound upon the tree-branch, unlike the sleep of man, ever 

 fearing an attack). And again, '" Ma te huruhuru te manu ka rere, ma te 

 kakahu te tangata ka tika ai " (By means of its feathers does a bird fly ; by 

 means of clothing is man made presentable). This saying is often given 

 a different ending : "Waihoki ma te kai te tangata ka or a a?' " (In like manner, 

 by means of food does a man retain life). 



