The Cuckoos : The Shining Cuckoo 
111 
p.m., 11 to 35; 6 p.m., 12 to 44; 9 p.m. 18 to 68; 10.5 p.m., 17 
to 64; 11 p.m., 25 to 107. 
“The notes do not include the terminal song or flourish. 
hi the early morning the call of the cuckoo is certainly more 
plaintive in tone than at other times. The call is delivered 
without that evident labour which accompanies the outpourings 
of some species of birds. Whilst performing it sits rather low 
on its perch, its head is slightly raised, the bill pointing rather 
upwards, the head is slowly moved from side to side.” 
Whilst this common cry, the “ coo-ee” of the cuckoo, is heard 
at -once and hailed with pleasure by the few who know and 
recognize it, it is quite unknown and comes unnoticed so far 
as most people are concerned, and probably this will always be 
so; it wall never be the familiar and welcome sound 
that the cry of the European cuckoo is to child and adult 
alike on the far side of the world. The seasons here are so 
mild and equable, so little contrasted, that it is hardly notice¬ 
able to the casual observer that the wandering voice and the 
summer come together. 
Circumstances were very different with the Maori; the 
seasons made more difference to him; and he welcomed the 
wharauroa, the shining cuckoo, as a harbinger. Ka tangi te 
wharauroa, ho nga karere a Mahuru, says the proverb (GIv, 
p. 44) , If the shining cuckoo cries, it is the message of 
Mahuru”;—Mahuru being the spring personified, according to 
a prevalent and much-loved custom of the poetical Maori. On 
first hearing the welcome cry, the children greeted the bird with 
the following song, collected by Elsdon Best 
E mail rakau a katoa KUa ^ “ 0i ki te mahanatan ga. Kua puawai nga 
KUI1 P tioro k at ara ld t<! ihU ° te tangata ‘ Kua P uta ano koe ki runga, 
Ti01 ° ti -° r ?. i te Waru - Me ti01 '° kaere ano e koe tenei kupu e 
“ “ - •“ '">• ..* - «. 
O bird, greeting to you. 
blossomed. 
The fragrance reaches the 
high. 
The warm season appears and all trees have 
nostrils of man. You again appear trilling on 
