IN TOUCH WITH NATURE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18874, 29 May 1923, Page 2

IN TOUCH WITH NATURE

GREAT EARTH MOVEMENTS. By J. Drummond, F.L.S., F.Z.S. A noticeable feature of the sea-front near the estuary of (he Mokau River in the western part of the Auckland province is a terrace from 80ft to 150 ft high. In the southern part of the district the terrace usually is about 20 chains wide, and is backed by steep hillsides evidently carved from an ancient sea-cliff. Dr J. Henderson and Mr M. Ongley, members of the .Geological Survey, express an opinion that the terrace was cut by waves, when the land there was about lOOft'lower than at present. They believe that a small grasscovered flat, ,12ft to 15ft above the .sea, in the Mokau township, fringes on old seacliff with caves and stacks. .Stacks are masses of rock which have resisted erosion, and which remain standing beyond receding lines of cliffs. Rock terraces at higher levels show that the land was even lower than a 100 ft coastal shelf seems to indicate. Other evidence collected by those geologists shows (hat at another period the land was higher. ‘'Towards the close of Tertiary rimes.” they write, “it was higher than at present. Later it was greatly depressed. Elevation took place again, and continued intermittently until the land stood probably more than., 200 ft higher than at present. If, was depressed again to the level of. the 100 ft coastal terrace, but has been lifted since to the height at which it now stands. Jho iCOft coastal terrace'.was" cut during a standstill, ’following on considerable ■ depression.” , ■ ' '

The area recently .surveyed geologically by Dr Tleuderson and Mr Ongley was traversed . partly by Dr Ferdinand Ritter Von IToehstetter. founder of New-Zealand geology," 61 years .ago. He came.tq New Zealand as 'geologist on the Australian frigate Novara. Ho was born-in Eslingen. Wurtemberg, Germany, but most-- of his work as a geologist -was done under the Austrian Government. One of his 'positions in Austria was scientific lecturer to Crown Prince Rudolph, who took his own life at the hunting lodge at Mayersling in 1889. Many valuable collections in Canterbury Museum were sent from Europe with Hochstettcr’s help. Results of his New Zealand researches were published in Vienna in a work entitled “Neu Seeland.” An English edition sells now for about 30s. Hochstetter’s name is perpetuated in the title of a New Zealand bird, the rare Notornis— Notornis hoohstetteri—-systematists having some 15 years ago substituted his name for Dr Mantel's) and in. Hoohstetter Dome, near the head of the Tasman Glacier, in the Southern Alps. •

Ho went from Hangaliki along the valley of the Mangapu. After ascending the divide between the Mangapu and the Mokau basins, along a spur, he descended into the Mokau Valley. He crossed the basin, of the Wanganui and reached a Maori village where the Ongaruhe township now. stands. Modern geologists have found that Hochstettor’s observations on his journey, and on the physical features of the country, are lucid and precise, and, oven when the names of features have been lost or changed, readily can bo followed. - ‘ His geological sketch map is correct in all essential points, and his description-of the geology" of the district is the basis of all subsequent work. I’m- many years after Hochstetter’s visit that area, which forms part of the King Country, was dosed to Europeans. It was not until almost 20 years later, 1878, that another geologist, Sir James Hector, penetrated to’ any part of the district. He traversed the Mokau 'River from its mouth to practically its source. Professor J. Park, of Dunedin, follower! eight years later, examining., the coastal section . from Waitara to Mokau -abd ascending the Mokau River as far as the Wairere Falls. ' '

The fern-bird, a somewhat plain, reddishbrown, long-tailed frequenter of bracken, fern, raupo, rushes, and is mentioned only at long intervals in this column. An opinion is expressed sometimes that it has become extinct, but, although it certainly is not plentiful, it does not seem to' be in danger of that fate. One of its homes is the lonely Gouland Downs, extensive areas of tussock and forest, valleys, gorges,, and hills. 20 or 30 miles south of 'Colling-; wood. Mr C. P. Roke, Kaoo, Whangnrqa County, North Auckland, reports that it is present in his district. “It is a very interesting little customer,” he writes, “but is not’ often seen, as it usually stays low down amongst rushes ,pr ■ undergrowth,” Early settlers, on account of tho fern-bird’s notes.- christened it “utick.” Mr Roke translates ' the double call into “to-whitt.” He states that two fern-birds, many yards apart, may take up the two notes, each, bird uttering one, but the notes come so quickly that it sounds like a , single song-, sler, and many people who hear them cannot believe that there are two birds, until, they see them.

On Mr H. Guthrio-Smith’s sheep station, Tutira. Hawke’s Bay, the fern-bird’s nest “is planted deep—buried —a foot or 15 inches in the hea-rt of cutty-grass, and usually a clump is selected, growing in a soft, wet spot, the fern-bird, like the pukeko. relying on these extra safeguards to fend off vermin and trampling stock.” Mr Guthrie-Smith adds: “Fern-birds’ nests can be discovered most easily on horseback, owing to the extra vision; and by continuous riding through half-dry swamps specimens are sure to be put up. If, when a bird is flushed, it flies off horizontally, probably it has been merely disturbed at feeding or resting, or gathering best materials. If, how'ever, the bird pops straight up out 'of the centre of a clump, the nest, after patient peering, will usually be found deepset among the saw-toothed blades. In form it is a cup-shaped structure, the outer layers composed of cutty-grass, the inner ones of grasses and pliable bents; but it is the finishing touches that peculiarly mark the nest. At the base of its interior - , small blue pukeko feathers are so arranged that their curly tops meet, and to a great extent conceal them. Ordinarily, the species is shy, but in the spring the male loses to some extent his timidity. He will then, regardless of the presence of man, mount to the very top of a flaxstick, climbing up in little runs, like a mouse or a house fly ” The fern-bird belongs to the same family as the babbling-thrush of India, which is not a true thrush, and which is in no way connected with the almost unrivallled songster brought to New Zealand from the Old Country, the famous song-thrusli.

Mr Hoke’s son, when watching pukekos, saw a kingfisher, with its foi’midable bill, strike one on the head. The pukeko fell to the ground but soon recovered and staggered away. Pukekos have increased in the district during the past six or seven years. A nest with five eggs was found on April 16. This is not unusually late, as the pukeko’s nesting season goes into winter sometimes. AVekas are very plentiful in the district, and are increasing.

Maoris’ fear of lizards has been traced by Mr Elsdon Best to two causes. One is a belief that they represent Whiro, the personification of evil and death, ■who always is seeking to destroy people. The other is a belief that they are the active agents of atua. or demons, who cause disease. As correspondents in this column have' stated, the green lizard, known to Maoris is moko kakariki, and to naturalists as Naultinus elogans, seems to be more dreaded than any other species. Mr Best states that Maoris, in pre-European days, were terrified when they heard the green lizards peculiar chatter, like a laugh. “The most appalling ordeal an old-time Maori could go through,” ho continues, “was to he obliged 1o eat a lizard. It was seldom done, and, as far as 1 know, it was connected with only two events, raising an armed force to help another clan, and acquiring the art of magic.” Many years ago, a tohunga told nis people in the WaViganui .Valley thrft all the troubles that" afflicted them had been caused by lizards, and that groves of beautiful karaka trees, where many lizards lived, must be destroyed. The trees were destroyed, and the Maoris lost valuable food supplies.

Tula Xihonoho. a chief oi jhe Ngatiponou tribe. Poverty Bay, assured Mr Best that the one species of lizard is an infallible cure for toothache. The lizard should be wrapped up in order that ' only,, its head is exposed. The bead is thrust into the sufferer's mouth, and is held against the tooth. The sufferer then bites the lizard'shead and crushes it, to make lilcibdl. .flow. The green lizard was used 'when-'air important building was being erected. A member of the species was buried at the, base of one of the three posts that supported ibe ridge-pole. It was a talisman or guardian, and preserved the welfare of the people who used the building. Lizards certainly were regarded, as guardians of buried caves. They seem to have been credited with both baneful and- beneficial characters as far as people are conce-qjed. A few animals are represented in - Maori carvings, bur only one creature is rept'fjsented faithfully—that creature is Ihe lizarci. Some Maoris on Ihe East Coast of the North Island- have a strange--; belief-that, before birds appeared in the ; world, ,'a man, found an egg of clay. He took it to -the god Tane. who endowed it with life. From it the tuatara reptile w-as hatched.