IN TOUCH WITH NATURE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2967, 25 January 1911, Page 13

IN TOUCH WITH NATURE.

NOTES ON NATURAL HISTORY IN NEW ZEALAND.

(B-* James Drummond, F.L.S., F.Z.S.) The Maoris' methods of snaring the kaka are described by Mr H. P. Washbourn, who writes from observations made in Golden Bay before the old order of things in regard to dealing with native birds had changed. The snarers usually selected an open knob near a piece of bush as a site for a tuki whare, a square or obling framework of sticks, about six feet by some four feet, lashed together and covered on the top and sides with leaves of the fern-tree. An upright stick projected from the roof, and to it was lashed an angle-niece of a branch, about six inches long. From that there hung a noose. When a kaka settled on the perch, the string was pulled by the snarer inside the whare, the noose caught the bird by the leg and held it tight to the upright stick. The Maori put his hand up through the roof, pulled down the captive and killed it, and the snare was set again. A mokai, or call-bird, was constantly poked with a stick to make it cry out in alarm. Other kakas, impelled by curiosity, came to see what was the matter, settled on the snaresticks, and, in their turn, were laid by the leg and killed. If kakas were plentiful the Maoris had a more expeditious method. They covered in a small place, sufficiently high for a man to sit in. One side was left open for about 18in above the ground. The mokai was placed inside, near the ground, in a position where it was just visible from the outside. A pole, about an inch thick and six feet long, was stuck in the ground near the opening, and projected at an angle several feet outside. On the callbird being teased, a kaka alighted on {he upper end of the stick, and walked down it in order to obtain a better view of the bird in trouble. When it was within easy reach, the snarer put forth his hand, caught it. by the neck, and pulled it into the whare, where he hit it across the top of its head and then threw it behind him. This was done so quickly and quietly that other kakas on the stick were not alarmed, and, one after the other, all met the same fate. This plan seemed to be a workable One only when there were large -numbers of kakas about, presumably because their constant movement and the noise they made drew their attention away from the fact that their friends down near the bottom of the pole were disappearing. Many call-birds did; not need teasing. They seemed to clearly understand what was required of them, and they did their best to decoy their fellows.

The last kaka Mr Washbourn possessed evidently enjoyed going kaka shooting with him. It sat on his left shoulder, and called until another kaka came into range. When it saw the gun aimed iv remained quiet and watched intently, and when the bird fell seemed to be pleased, and danced from one leg to another, and then began to attract another victim. It disclosed no fear at the firing of the gun, but looked as if it considered the affair a somewhat serious one. Its wings were not cut, and although Mr Washbourn's house was close to the forest, where it spent a good deal of its time, it always returned at night and had some supper., usually bread and butter sprinkled with sugar. Whenever it returned at night, no matter what hour it was, someone had to turn out and give it its supper, as it tried the doors and windows until it was admitted. When it was caught it was tied to a stick for a few days, but after that it was given complete freedom. It is believed that it died from eating too heartily of cucumber. Several cucumbers were brought from the garden and left on a bench outside. In the morning t&fire was ample evidence that the kaka had had cucumber for supper. At any rate it was never seen again, and it is presumed that it went into the forest and died there.

Mr Washbourn found that females "were tamed easily, but that males were not so tractable. When shown its reflection .in a mirror a kaka naturally concluded that there was another bird present, and first threatened it and then talked to it quietly and in a friendly tone, and popped its head suddenly round to the back, but finding nothing there lost all interest in the problem. Maoris sometimes kept their mokai birds for many years. They placed a bone ring fairly tightly over one foot. It was loose around the leg. A piece of string made of dressed flax., about 18in long, was tied to the ring. The other end was passed through a hole in a stick, and a weight was attached to it. The edge of the lower mandible was scraped away, to prevent the bird from biting through the etring. These pets were fed on cooked potatoes and other luxuries, lived well, and thrived for many years. Europeans' kakas were seldom kept alive very long, and frequently died from over-eating. They had a marked weakness for fat, sugar, honey, and the huhu grub, and they dearly loved to clean out a marrowbone. In their natural conditions kakas suck quantities of honey, especially from the rata, kowhai, flax and other blossoms, and feast on the keikei when it is in flower. In recent years they have shown a desire to suck honey from the bluegum blossoms. Mr Washbourn suggests that all sanctuaries for native birds should have bluegum plantations. He says that they blossom early, before the native trees, are very rich in honey, and will carry tuis, bell-birds, and kakas over the worst time of the year. All these birds, especially tuis, would come long distances to exploit bluegum trees. He adds that tuis, apparently, when' sucking honey from the gum trees, have a different note from the note they usually sound.

Harrier hawks are reported by Mr A. AHlison, who has a 'arm near Wan-

ganui, to be very troublesome to him, and he has laid an information against them in this column. He says that they pick out the eyes of the sheep which are unfortunate enough to fall to the ground. The birds do not wait for the sheep to become weak, but attack • them as soon as they are unable to rise without help, whether they are strong or weak. Mr Allison's neighbour some time ago discovered a strong ewe lying on her side with one of her eyes out. He placed her on her other side and left her, but returned in a few hours to find that the other eye had been picked. He killed her and watched the carcase for a few days, and shot no fewer than 30 hawks that had come to the feast. Mr Allison's observations show that the birds make the attacks soon after the sheep are down, and persist until the eye is removed. Be has not known the hawks to commit injuries in other parts or to touch the body until it is dead. They then tear at the mouth or take wool off the ribs and eat into the flesh. In spite of shooting, trapping, and poisoning, hawks seem to be very plentiful in the Wanganui district. Some of the farmers there are considering a proposal that they should combine against the birds and pay for heads or feet. It is thought that the large numbers of small birds offer easy prey during the breeding season, and the sheep are then usually left alone. When the ewes begin to go down on account of the growth of their wool, however, the youngbirds are strong and wary, and are not caught so easily. About May, the hawks become bolder and attack sheep, out. In 1909 they were exceptionally destructive, and large numbers were shot, and then the farmers usually thin them This seems to have been accepted as a warning, as in 1910 there were fewer losses than usual, the hawks looking for other food.