THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 103 



the difference strikingly. That portion (No. i) through which 

 the electric current was not passed differs distinctly in the division 

 of its cells from that through which it was passed (No. 2). In 

 No. I the cells are regularly dispersed, the parenchyma un- 

 broken, and the parenchymatous cells undisturbed and in outline 

 very regular ; whereas, in No. 2, the cells appear irregular, with 

 the parenchyma broken, the cell-wall ruptured, and the paren- 

 chymatous cells scattered about. The process with the electric 

 current was tried upon another petal in the same manner as in 

 Nos. I and 2, but the chemical treatment was afterwards with 

 ammoniated sulphate of copper. The effect upon the cellulose 

 and parenchyma is also very plain there, although not quite so, 

 on account of the intransparency of the specimens. 



MAORI PRESERVED HEADS OF NEW ZEALAND. 



By Thos. Steel, F.C.S. 



(Read before the Field JVattiralists' Club of Victoria, \/\th Sep- 

 tember, 1891.^ 



Amongst the Maori inhabitants of New Zealand, the institution 

 of the tapu, whereby certain objects were made to be considered 

 sacred or reserved, was very prevalent. This superstition applied 

 with especial force to the persons of chiefs and of priests, and 

 peculiarly to the heads of these individuals. So strict indeed 

 was the institution that no ordinary person dare touch, or even 

 mention or look fixedly at, the head of a chief, that part of his 

 body being the most highly tapu of all. 



Much ceremonial performance, for instance, was gone through 

 when his hair was clipped or cut, this operation being performed 

 by a special official, by means of sharp shells, and very great 

 care was exercised in the disposal of the cut-off hair, as it was 

 supposed to afford a powerful talisman to any enemy into whose 

 hands it might come. It is not surprising that great importance 

 was attached to the disposal of the dead, and that much cere- 

 mony and mystery surrounded the rites of sepulture. The usual 

 custom was to place the body in some spot more or less exposed, 

 until the flesh had decayed, the bones being afterwards carefully 

 scraped with shells and stowed away in caves, hollow trees, and 

 such-like hiding places. Particular regard was paid to the 

 remains of chiefs ; the skulls were rubbed over with the sacred 

 kokoivai or red ochre, and preserved with special care. Occa- 

 sionally, in case of individuals who had more than usually 

 distinguished themselves as warriors, or as wise leaders of their 

 people, the heads were preserved intact with the flesh, and were 

 regarded with much veneration. Sometimes, also, the head of a 

 relative, child, or wife would be preserved. From what informa- 



I 



