200 THE ANIMALS OF NEW ZEALAND 



bill. One quick stroke, almost too swift for the eye to follow, and 

 a slight movement of the neck, tell that the prey is captured and 

 engulfed ; and the silent watch is once more resumed. ' ' 



When flying, the head is kept far back, the tip of the bill being 

 behind the forward curve of the neck ; and the legs are stretched 

 out straight behind. The large rounded wings beat slowly, but 

 the progress of the bird is rapid. 



The Maoris placed a high value on the plumes of the white 

 heron. Mr. Elsdon Best states that among the people who lived 

 in the fastnesses of Tuhoe Land, and also probably in other places, 

 the plumes were tapu (sacred). If a man wore one while eating, 

 no woman might join in the meal unless the wearer took it off and 

 placed it on one side. It was supposed that if a woman persisted 

 in joining in the meal, she would become bald. 



Ge)}us Notophoyx. 



Bill longer than the middle toe and claw. Tarsus moderate, not 

 twice the length of the outer toe and claw. Tail with twelve 

 feathers ; dorsal train not extending beyond the tail ; a full crest, 

 but no nape plumes. Australia, New Caledonia, the Moluccas, 

 and Cook Islands. 



The White-fronted Heron. — IMatuku. 



Notoplioijx novae-hollandiae. 



Bluish grey; throat, forehead and over the eye, white; breast 

 tinged with pink; eye yellow. Length of the wing, 12 in.; of the tarsus, 

 3.5 in. Egg — Bluish green; length, 1.9 in. The same range as that of 

 the genus. 



The white-fronted heron, according to Mr. Potts, used to be 

 far from common in Canterbury. In Australia it builds on trees 

 and makes its nest of sticks. 



