MEANS OF SUPPORT. 
497 
though it is said to be more plentiful in the southern one. 
The weka , a large rail, is still found in the interior of the 
north island, and readily approaches the natives, who imitate 
its cry, it is so pugnacious, that if a bit of red cloth or other 
rag be tied to a stick, it flies at it immediately, and is thus 
easily caught by a noose held in the other hand. The Jcereru , 
or wood-pigeon, is a fine but stupid bird, it is frequently 
taken by placing a pole near the water’s edge, where it is 
accustomed to drink, when it has quenched its thirst, it 
alights on this, which being completely covered with snares 
made of flax, it soon gets its legs entangled in them, and 
is secured ; the rimu and fcahihatea pine trees, when in 
fruit, are also thickly set with snares, by which means num- 
bers are taken ; the natives have a long bird-spear, often 
from twenty to thirty feet in length, armed with a sharp barb 
of bone, with this they silently approach the tree on which 
the bird has alighted, and it is generally so stupid as to stay 
and be speared, although it sees its enemy approach ; if the 
tree be one to which the pigeon is accustomed to resort, on 
account of the abundance of fruit, the natives then construct 
a ladder by ingeniously binding two young trees together, 
which may be growing near, and use them for that pur- 
pose, by which means they can approach the bird with the 
greater facility, numbers of pigeons are thus captured, they 
extract all their bones, and, when cooked, place them in a 
large pqpa, or vessel made of the totara bark ; thus preserved 
in their own fat, they will keep good for a long time ; the 
tui, when in season, is very fat, and is also preserved in a 
similar way, it is a most lively bird, and can only be taken 
by snares. The kaka, or great brown parrot, one of the 
largest of its family, is also eaten ; it is generally caught by 
means of a tame parrot, used as a decoy ; a pole is stuck in 
the ground, in an inclined position, in some shady part of 
the forest, on which the tame bird is placed ; the native 
forms a little arbor with a few large leaves of the fern tree, 
in which he sits concealed with a small stick in his hand, the 
call of the tame bird soon attracts some of its wild com- 
panions, which, when they alight on the pole, are enticed 
