SCOUT NOTES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 233, 14 September 1934, Page 10

SCOUT NOTES

(By

"Friar Tuck.”)

COMMISSIONER’S OUTLOOK.

During the patrol leaders’ course I noticed a great ignorance of the habits •nd customs of the patrol birds and animals. Some did not even know their cry. Now our Chief’s idea when he formed you into patrols and allowed you to choose your own bird or animal was that it should awaken your interest in wild life, and he wanted you to study and iind out as much about your patrol creatures as you could. The eharaeteristics. if good ones, should be copied as far as possible in your Scouting work. I intend each week to give you information about some of the most common patrol birds. I hope you will copy them ont and put them up in your patrol corners or paste them into your patrol log books, which I hope you all have, or will have. When a new chap joins he should be taught as much as possible about his patrol emblem. Tho most common in the district is, I think, the Morepork. This is the New Zealand owl. The Maori for it is Rum and it was first discovered by Foster at Queen Char lotto Sound during Captain Cook's second voyage. It is dark chocolate brown in colour, streaked and spotted with lighter down; white around bill and eyebrows; black bill; yellow iris to eyes; toes yellow with dark hairs. The young birds are covered with thick, white down. The birds lay two or three eggs, white and smooth. Habits: In the daytime the Morepork hides in dark shady foliage or hollows in rocks and trees, as it cannot see in bright light, and also if it were found by other birds would be attacked in a mob. At dusk, however, he is very much alive and takes toll of any small birds that may come his way. Although our bush is rapidly disappearing, he has found hnrbmfnge in our gardens, sometimes in our towns. His flight is very silent. Food: Ho is mainly an insect eater, and likes big moths and beetles and wetas. Ho also has a partiality to mice and small rats. He will also feed on eggs. Voice: Tho characteristic cry of this owl is one that he gets his

name from, "Morepork.” No doubt you have all heard him. He has rather a high-pitched voice and repeats his cry several times in succession. He utters various other cries, the most common sounding like "pork,pork, pork,” and “ arrick-arrick ”, which can be imitated by a rolling sound made in the throat. You should use all those cry» for different signals in your patrol. He generally nests in hollow trees or caves, but sometimes selects a cluster of pine needles in the fork of a tree. Two or three eggs are laid in early summer and the young are fed on the same food that the older birds eat. At first the parents feed their young and later simply bring tho food and let them help themselves. Although he does kill a few birds, he certainly pays for them by ridding the country of some of its insect and vermin pests, and so is protected. The Maoris sometimes eat him, but he is not considered very tasty. It is said that the round, glaring eyes used in <Rme Maori carvings represent the eyes of Koururu, who was a supposed sort of man-morepork. Now I have told you all this not to save you trouble, but to try to stimulate your interest in bird life, and I should like some of you to quhlify for the "stalkers” badge, which calls for skill and patience, and see these things for yourselves. Cheerio. "LITTLE JOHN.” ESK TROOP ENTERTAINMENT. The Esk Troop entertainment and dance was a great success. It was the troop’s tirst attempt at a public enter, tainment and some time and trouble bad been taken rehearsing, so it was very gratifying to those concerned, especially as the night was not of the best. The entertainment opened with the Dominion haka by the troop. This was followed by a song acted by the boys, “What Will We Do with a Scout That's Dozy?’’ This included several means of wakening the dozy Scout, one being tossed in a blanket and finally freshened up with a pail of water. The next, two items were songs, the first by Mr Allen and the second by the A.S.M., Mr It. Absolom. Then came another song, “Clemantine,” in which everything was acted except that Clemantine disappeared off the stage instead of falling into the “foaming brine’’ in the, full view of tho audience. This was followed by a song by the Scoutmaster,

Mr A. Absolom. The living statuary which camo next always seems to appeal to the audience and is very easy to do. Tho six figures acted were: “The Shot Putter,” “The Disc Thrower,” “Wrestlers,” “Tho Vigil,” “The Scout,” and “Adoration.” The actors were dressed in white and thenbodies painted in white and their hair powdered; the lighting was by magnesium flare.

A song in costume, “I’m a Vagabond,” by Rover Leader Hyde was a suitable contrast to the solemn

“marble” and was warmly encored. Then came the item of tho evening, the “Shadow Show,” not the usual operation but life in 999999 8.0. —wild cannibal tribes hunting and killing a rival tribesman, cooking and euting him only to bo disturbed by a wild beast which chases them away and eats their dinner. Tho Hawke's Hay Rovers and Rangers sang a Scandinavian hiking song and as an encore sang “Who Killed Cock Robin?” Tho Kirby malzard sword dance was greatly appreciated by tho spectators. The English sword dances are all very spectacular and quite easy to do; it is a wonder that more troops do not have a folk dance team.

After a good supper, tho band struck up and dancing continued till midnight. The troop wishes to thank all those who helped in the conducting and rehearsing of tho show; the ladies that so kindly gave their services in the slipper department; for those who helped in tho concert, especially Mr Brison lor getting tho hall ready and working the curtain, and the orchestra lor playing for the dances. As a result of tho entertainment the troop's Jamboree fund will benefit by over £5. SCOUTER ON HOLIDAY. Mr Archer Absolom, Scoutmaster of tho Esk Troop and Rover mate of the country patrol of tho Hawke’s Bay Rovers, sails lot England, accompanied by his-wife, on tho Niagara, sailing from Auckland. They intend spending a fortnight in Canada en route.