396 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
saying, “ Te hoa kakari o te Wera he wakahao —“ The 
enemy of te Wera is the sea-lion.” 
Whales were very numerous in the New Zealand seas (fam. 
Balcenidce). The sperm whale ( par ana ), is found of different 
colors, some being white, others black, or of an ochreous or 
dingy red, and frequently of a mottled color. The tohora 
(balcena anlipodum ) or right whale, was very abundant. The 
dead black whale is said always to drift to the leeward, whilst 
the sperm, on the contrary, goes to the windward. 
The fin-back [balcena physalus) is found chiefly on the north¬ 
east shores of the North Island. 
The most remarkable of the New Zealand birds is the 
apterix Australis, or kiwi (fam. Struthionidce), which is sup¬ 
posed to be one of the last surviving members of a very large 
family. This remarkable bird is still abundant in several parts 
of the country. In size, it is not larger than a common full- 
grown fowl, yet it lays an egg not more than one-third less 
that of the emu, for it is eight inches in circumference across, 
and twelve lengthwise. There are two varieties of the kiwi, one 
being rather larger than the other, and of a darker color, this 
only lays one egg ; the other, or common red one, lays two, 
which are of smaller dimensions. This bird has a rudimentary 
wing, which is terminated by a slender claw; the bill is long and 
A Chief came to me one day, and inquired whether there were men and 
women living in the sea. I demanded the reason of the question being put to 
me. He said, that whilst a boat’s crew was going for the Rev. Mr. Reay, in 
Cloudy Bay, a figure suddenly appeared in the water, at a distance of about 
three yards ; they left off rowing, and gazed at it for a long time ; it resem¬ 
bled a black man of the usual size, but was bald on the head, and with 
moustachios sticking out about four inches. As they approached, it laid on 
the water like a log, and one said it was a log, another that it was a kumete, 
or large wooden bowl, turned upside down; but, as they drew near, it rose 
up, and appeared as a black man, as far as the waist; it looked steadfastly at 
them, and kept puffing with its mouth : it was a perfect man, only was bald, 
and had a queer stiff-looking moustache. One proposed to throw a rope round 
it, and pull it into the boat; another said, No, it is taniwci (sea god), and will 
smash the boat. It continued looking at them and puffing for about an hour, 
and then went down. They told Mr. Reay of it, and said they had never seen 
such a creature before, and asked whether wo pakehus had. I asked whether 
it was not a seal; they said no, it was a perfect man as far as the waist—the 
lower part was concealed in the water . — From Tamihana, 1847. 
