64 Bird-Song : and New Zealand Song Birds 
and moon may reappear, bright objects, from the darkness, so 
the spirit of man may reappear to his people from the darkness 
of death, and this it does in various winged forms of birds and 
insects, especially in bright or white forms. Of all the Maori 
birds, the most highly valued was the graceful snow-white 
heron, the kotuku. “He kotuku rerenga tahi,” says the pro¬ 
verb; (A kotuku, whose flight is seen but once), so rare was 
the bird, (TT, p. 130, and GK, p. 57). It was as a kotuku that 
Tama-nui-a-raki appeared to his kinsfolk in the underworld. A 
cluster of white albatross feathers was a highly prized ear- 
ornament for a chief; and the white-tipped tail-feathers of the 
huia were worn only by chiefs of high rank. So, too, the rare 
creamy white feathers of the kaka were prized, and those of the 
seldom-seen pure white pigeon; but if these feathers were worn, 
the bird from wdiich they were taken w T as not used as food, but 
burnt with fire. 
“He mate kalvu korako,” says the proverb:—“So you want a 
rare white hawk, do you?” (GK, p. 20), applied to a man of 
low rank falling in love with the daughter of a chief; or to a 
person desiring something impossible of attainment. 
So, again, if a white bird flew into a dwelling it caused a 
great stir. A white fan tail, most rare and beautiful bird, has 
been known to fly into a dwelling, and soon afterwards the 
woman heard of the death of her sister : that, then, was her spirit. 
There is a marked tendency of birds in New Zealand towards 
albinism; and it was no doubt the comparatively rare occurrence 
of these wdiite birds that caused the occult significance to be 
attached to them by the Maori. Amongst human beings, albinos 
were considered to be the offspring of the wood-fairies, the 
Patu-paiarehe, who were said frequently to surprise women m 
the bush (TI, p. 47) ; at any rate, the women said so, and why 
should they not be believed? 
The robins of the two islands differ in coloration as do the 
tom-tits. 
South Island robin. —Colouring similar to the North Island 
robin, except that the band on breast and abdomen is yellowish- 
white ; bill and feet brownish-black. 
