CoLENSO. — On the Colour Sense of the Maoris. 477 



matism ; that this change has acted very severely upon the children ; the 

 other great cause beiug the large amount of absolute sterility and the 

 small reproductive powers of the race. I believe that to these two things is 

 due the rapid decrease of the race ; a lessening in numbers hastened some- 

 what, though only in a small degree, by imported European diseases ; and 

 that only one imported vice, viz., alcoholism, has in the least helped to 

 hasten the disappearance of the race. 



Taking all things into consideration, the disappearance of the race is 

 scarcely subject for much regret. They are dying out in a quick, easy way, 

 and are being supplanted by a superior race. 



Akt. LXXVI. — On the fine Perception of Colours possessed by the ancient Maoris. 



By W. CoLENSo, F.L.S. 



(Addendum to Art. III.) 



[Bead before the Hawke's Bay Philosophical Institute, 10th October, 1881.] 



I PURPOSE here noticing more particularly some of the errors in Mr. Stack's 

 paper ; those especially which I have not referred to in my paper.* 



At page 1541 Mr. Stack says: — "What stage had the colour-sense of 

 the Maori reached before intercourse with Europeans began ? This can 

 readily be ascertained by reference to the terms existing in the language at 

 that date, for giving expression to the sense of colour." 



I deny that this can " reaclily be ascertained " even by any expert Maori 

 scholar ; still it was, and is known ; but not in the bald way that Mr. 

 Stack supposes. 



He then goes on to say, that "there are only three colours for which 

 terms exist" (!) which he also follows up with certainly erroneous attempts 

 at derivation of his three Maori terms, relying as he tells us upon " a few 

 standard works, which will always serve for reference, whenever a question 

 may arise as to the meaning of any word in the language. One of the 

 most reliable of these is the translation of the Bible, the work of Archdeacon 

 Maunsell," etc. 



Here I note, (1) — " for reference as to the meaning of any ivord in the 

 language." Now this remark alone would, d priori, confirm me in my sup- 

 position of Mr. Stack's insufficient knowledge of Maori. There are hundreds, 



* See above, p. 49. 

 t See " Trans. N.Z. Inst.," vol. xii., — and so throughout, whenever Mr. Stack's 

 paper is referred to. 



