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159 



Ihe 



In its native country it is less esteemed for its beauty than for its value as an article of food ; and 

 to both Maoris and colonists, in every part of New Zealand, pigeon-shooting, at certain seasons of the 

 year, affords agreeable recreation, while to many it is a source of profitable employment. Owing to 

 the loud beating of its wings in its laboured flight it is readily found, even in the thickest part of the 

 bush, and being naturally a stupid bird it is very easily shot ; so that in a favourable locality it is not 

 an unusual thing for a sportsman single-handed to bag fifty or more in the course of a morning. 

 In some districts the slaughter has been so great during a productive season that the Pigeons 

 have never afterwards recovered their numbers ; but in most of our woods, notwithstanding this 

 persistent persecution, they reappear in each successive year in undiminished plenty. 

 " season " is indicated by the ripening of certain berries on which this species subsists ; and the 

 abundance of the birds is regulated to a great extent by that of the food-supply, which is more or 

 less variable. A sporting gentleman pointed out to me a taraire grove at Kamarama, near Auck- 

 land, where in 1869 he found the Pigeons so numerous that he shot eighty-five in the course of 

 two mornings ; but in the following year, owing to the partial failure of the taraire berry, there 



was hardly one to be seen there. 



In the spring and early summer it is generally very lean and unfit for the table ; but as 

 autumn advances and its favourite berries ripen, it rapidly improves in condition, till it becomes 

 extremely fat. It is esteemed most by epicures when feeding on the mast of the miro, which imparts 

 a peculiar richness to the flesh. In January the berries of the kohutuhutu, poroporo, kaiwiria, 

 puriri, mangiao, and tupakihi constitute its ordinary bill of fare. From February to April their 

 place is supplied by those of the tawa, matai, kahikatea, mapau, titoki, and maire. It is worth 

 remarking that in localities where it happens to be feeding exclusively on the pulpy fruit of the 

 kahikatea, it is not only in very poor condition, but acquires a disagreeable flavour from the 

 turpentine contained in the seeds. Towards the close of this period also, the ti-palm, which 

 comes into full bearing only at intervals of three or four years, occasionally supplies this bird with 



an abundant feast. 



These tropical-looking palms often form extensive groves in the open 



much sought after. 



country or in swampy situations ; and when the Pigeons resort to them they are speared and snared 

 in great numbers by the Maoris, an expert hand sometimes taking as many as sixty in a single 

 day. In May and June it feeds chiefly on the miro and pate, when it reaches its prime and is 



From July to September it lives almost entirely on taraire in the north, and 

 on hinau, koeka, ramarama, and other smaller berries in the south. During the months of 

 October, November, and December it is compelled to subsist in a great measure upon the green 

 leaves of the kowhai {Sophora tetraptera) and of several creeping plants. It also feeds on the 

 tender shoots of the puwha, a kind of sow-thistle ; and the flesh then partakes of the bitterness 

 of that plant. When the bird is feeding wholly on the dark berries of the wawao the colour of 

 its flesh is said to become affected by that of the food. 



The Pigeon-season, however, is to some extent contingent on locality : for example, in the 

 spring of 1863, I found these birds in the Upper Manawatu living on kowhai-leaves, and so lean 

 in body as to be scarcely worth powder and shot, while in the low timbered flats under the 

 ranges, where they were feeding on the ripe berries of the karaka {Corynocarpiis l(^mgata\ they 

 were in excellent condition. 



Mr. Gilbert Mair, who kept a winged bird in his possession for about eight months, informs 



y2 



