BIRDS AND THE MAORI.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 220, 16 September 1924, Page 9

BIRDS AND THE MAORI.

INTERESTING NATIVE LORE. An excellent idea of the important part birds played in the lives of the natives in a land where mammals were practically unknown was given last night by Mr. R. A. Falla, who lectured before the anthropology and Maori race section of the Auckland Institute on "Maori Bird Lore." Professor J. C. Johnson presided. Mr. Falla showed how the desire for flesh food had developed in the native a wonderful skill in capturing birds. The Maori used several such as spearing the lazy pigeon with a long spear or lance; decoying the inquisitive kaka by means of a tame kaka secured by the leg to which a ring was attached; snaring several sorts of birds; and catching others, such as the gpdwit, in nets set on stakes in spots frequented by the birds. i The old-time Maori was very clever at setting snares, or running nooses, which were placed either near a bait or in the runs frequented by the bird. An instance of the Maori's close observance of bird habits was to be seen in the ingenious way he took the hawk, which always dived at its prey head to wind. The Maori noted this, and used to set a bait with a noose just in front of it. Mr. Falla explained the uses to which the Maori's artistic sense led him to put the. fine feathers of some of the birds he captured for food. With the kiwi feathers he made some of his most prized .mats, and the bright feathers of the pigeon were also used in mat making, while the red under-wing feathers of the kaka were used for ornamentation —the heads of taiahas among other things. The Maori even kept some birds as pets. In spite of the fact that he was a- great bird hunter the Maori never depleted his coverts, as he instituted a very strict system oil preservation. During the nesting season the birds were made very tapu, or sacred, and it was strictly forbidden to do any snaring or killing. A very interesting part of - the lecture ' was that describing the important place birds occupied ia the traditions and mythology of the Maori. Many of the Maori traditions were quite poetic. For instance, the Maori's idea about land .and sea birds was that the birds had a great battle at the beginning of things, and the' birds that were defeated were banished from the land, and ever since then had been compelled to liye on the ocean. ' I