26 Bird-Song : and New Zealand Song Birds 
Then the sea-bird set forth to its own realm in order to 
raise an army to seize the home of the land-birds, and assembled 
all the tribes of sea-birds so that a grand attack might be made. 
The river-cormorant heard of the great preparation, and col¬ 
lected a great force of land-birds to resist the attack. Many 
tribes rose to the call. There came the kukn, and kaka, and tui 
and honge, and rnrn, and pirakaraka, and pitoitoi, with many 
others; in fact, when all had assembled the gloom of night had 
fallen across the world of day. 
When Hine-ata, the Dawm-maiden, arrived, then arose pitoitoi 
(the robin) to rouse the party, crying —“Pi toi toi toil” and all 
awoke from sleep. Then said kawau (the river-cormorant), 
“Who will go forth as a scout to observe the advancing army?” 
Koekoea (long-tailed cuckoo) cried—“I will go. When you 
hear me call you may know that the enemy is located.” Forth 
went koekoea, who soon spied the army of sea-birds approaching 
with karoro (sea-gull) in the lead. Then the cry of koekoea 
struck upon the ear —“Ko o o el and karoro shrieked —“A ha!” 
Then koekoea returned and reported. 
Kawau enquired—“Who will advance and challenge the 
enemy?” And pirakaraka (fantail) said—“I will challenge.” 
Even so pirakaraka went forth w r ith his w r eapon, his taiaha, 
and danced and glared and grimaced before the enemy after the 
manner of a challenge, crying his challenge, thus— “Tei! tei! 
tei! ? Then to the column he returned and sank to earth. 
Again kawau enquired “Who wall repeat the w T ar ritual over 
us? Quoth tui—“I will conduct it, and let honge, (crow) com¬ 
mence the air of the chant, tiraueke (saddle-back) recite the 
words, and tane-te-w r ai-ora( ?) the invocation, and pipi- 
wharauroa (shining cuckoo) conclude the ritual, and kuku 
(pigeon) make the final response.” 
Then tui commenced the ritual and honge gave the tune, 
and tiraueke recited the wv>rds, and pipi-wharauroa concluded 
w r ith his well-known cry of “ Kui! kui! kui! whiitiwhiti ora!” 
All these performed their parts, and then sat down, whereupon 
kuku responded with his cry of “Ku u!” 
Once more kawau enquired—“Who will begin the battle?” 
Ruru (morepork) rose and said—“I will.” 
