HOW THE KIWI LOST ITS WINGS

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 170, 19 July 1924, Page 22

HOW THE KIWI LOST ITS WINGS

(By P.M.F.)

Lon 0 ' ago, before any white man set foot in New Zealand, the Kiwi was very common: but, unlike the Kiwi of to-day, it had wings, and was able to fly like other birds. The Kiwis were great friends of the bush fairies, who used them to r'de upon. One snd day Pukita, a" wicked goddess, imprisoned the Fairy Princess Huinga in an old hollow tree, and, after casting a spell upon the tree, went away and left it. When the Kiwis heard of this wicked deed, they held a meeting under a wide-spreading tree. One or the birds fluttered on to a branch, and, acting as spokesman, .-aid: "Well, brothers, we have met together to make plans to rescue our Princess Huinga." No sooner were these words spoken th:in I. mysterious voice was beard in the treetops: "1 you would break the spell and rescue your Princess," it moaned, "you must lie prepared to make a great sacrifice.'' The Kiwis held their breaths, then shouted together: "What is it?" The mysterious voice spoke again: "You must forfeit your wing.-:," it said. "Will j-ou do this?" The Kiwis were silent; then they shoutetl in unison: "We will! We will: We will forfeit our wings to set our lovely Princess free." Tbe voice began again, this time in a whisper: "Then appoint one of your number to be the rescuer. He must tap three time.? upon the hollow tree and call, 'llaire! llaire!' That is all." The voice ceased, and all was still. The Kiwis then appointed their leader and retired, while he made ready for his journey. The next morning; lie set out, and, arriving at the hollow tree, tapped three times, calling at the same time, "llaire! Haire!" A door in the bark of the tree then opened and the Kiwi saw the lovely pale face of Huinga as she looked out. "Climb on to my back, 0 Princess," he said, "and I will fly with you to the land of flowers." The Princes did as she was bid. but alas! the brave bird had forgotten the great sacrifice he had made, and when he looked at the places where his beautiful wings had been he saw two short stumps. A tear dropped from his eye; but when he heard the Princess' sweet voice saying, "Hasten, dear friend, lest Pukita should overtake us!" lie started to run, and he did not stop until he reached his comrades in the fary busih. The Princess thanked the Kiwis for their braveness, ar.d to show her gratitude -lie presented each bird with a strong, long beak, to make up for the lost wings.