The Flycatchers 29 
Woman of Night awoke; the hero was nipped in two; and Night 
and Death were victors. 
The myth has been related in many forms, and has often been 
travestied. It is part of a beautiful solar myth, Maui being no 
other than a sun-god, or light personified. His westward 
journey is the setting of the sun; and the birds silent in the 
middle part of the day, awaken again to cheery song in the 
afternoon and evening accompanying the hero to his daily 
conflict with Night. 
Of the nineteen Maori names recorded (WJ, p. 198), all are 
more or less echoic; the two in general use are those given at 
the opening of the chapter. 
