8S4 A NEW BOWEE-BIRB. 



inducing' my friend to accompany me^ as lie was 

 afraid of a war party of Gomokudins^ wliicli tribe 

 had lately given notice that they were coming- to 

 fig^ht the Evans Bay people. HoAvever I promised 

 to protect him^ and loaded one barrel with ball^ 

 which g'ave him increased confidence^, still he insisted 

 upon carr3dng' a larg-e bundle of spears and a 

 throwing'-stick. Of late Paida's tribe have taken 

 steps to prevent being- surprised b}^ their enemies. 

 At nig-ht they remove in their canoes to the neig'h- 

 bouring' island Robumo^ and sleep there^ returning- 

 in the morning- to the shore^ and take care not to 

 g*o away to a distance sing'ly or unarmed. 



While watching- in the scrub I cauo'ht se^^eral 

 glimpses of the tewinya (the native name) as it 

 darted throuo-h the bushes in the neio-hbourhood of 

 the bower^ announcing- its presence by an occasional 

 loud clmrr-r-ry and imitating the notes of various 

 other birds^ especially the leather-head. I never 

 before met with a more wary bhd^ and for a long- 

 time it enticed me to follow it to a short distance^ 

 then flying- off and alighting- on the bower^ it would 

 deposit a berr}" or two^ run through^ and be off 

 again (as the black told me) before I could reach 

 the spot. All this time it was impossible to get a 

 shot. . At lengthy just as my patience was becoming' 

 exhausted^ I saw the bird enter the bower and 

 disappear^ when I fired at random throug-h the 

 twigs^ fortunately with effect. So closely had we 

 concealed ourselves latterly^ and so silent had we 



