MEANS OF SEP PORT. 
381 
than the common fowl: it was hunted with dogs and torches 
at night; it is now all but extinct in the northern island, 
though it is said to be plentiful in the southern one. 
The iveka, or large rail, is still found in the interior of the 
north island. The natives imitate its cry so exactly that it 
readily approaches them. This bird 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 kereru, or wood-pigeon, is a very fine bird, but very 
stupid. 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 upon this, which is completely 
covered with snares made of flax, where it soon gets its legs 
entangled, and is thus secured. The rimu and kahikatea pine 
trees, when in fruit, are also thickly set with snares, by which 
means numbers are taken. The natives have also 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 purpose, 
by which means they can approach the bird with the greater 
facility. Great numbers of pigeons are thus captured. The 
natives frequently extract all their bones, and, when cooked, 
place them in a large papa —a vessel made of the totara 
bark; thus preserved in their own fat, they will keep many 
months. The tui, when in season, is very fat, and is also pre¬ 
served 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, which is 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 parrot is placed. The native forms 
