CORRESPONDENCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 8 September 1923, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE MAKOMAKO

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Some time ago I referred in the Star to the extinction of the makomako (or bell bird) in Taranaki, and the editor of the Herald corrected me by stating that there were still a few in the forest reserve at Mount Egmont. This was certainly pleasing news to me, because I was firmly of opinion that we had seen the last of this splendid whistler in this province. In the early d^si the makomako was almost as plentiful as the übiquitous sparrow; even the town of New P-ymouth swarmed with them, and their beautiful notes could be heard in all directions. The acacia when in bloom was a favourite resort of the makomako. and I am afraid that from these low trees the boy with a catapult took heavy toll whilst the birds were sucking "honey from the yeHow flowers. At the time Mr. J. Cowan wrote "The Maoris of New Zealand" (Mr. Rockell notwithstanding), he was not far wrong in lamenting the fact that the sweet notes of the makomako were seldom heard in the North Island. The birds suddenly disappeared from New Plymouth and " its surroundings, and I may say that I have been in many parts of Taranaki (bush and otherwise) since their supposed disappearance without ever hearing or seeing one. It is gratifying to learn that Mr. Jennings has observed one at Fraser Road, and it is further gratifying to learn from Mr. Rockell that they are plenti- , ful in the Mokau and Awakino districts and up the Patea river. But let me say this: I was in the Mokau and Awakino districts in 1917 and heard nothing about them. However, they may have been in some localities in the vicinity. This return of the makomako makes one wonder if there is not still hope for the moa and huia.— I am, etc., i FIFTY-ONE. : i