STRANGE CREATURES

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1930, Page 1 (Supplement)

STRANGE CREATURES

MAORI NATURE NOTES

(By

J.H.S.—Copyright.)

The Glow Worm. , ; The puratoke (flashing worm) o. glow worm, is made famous In Nev Zealand by the unique beauty of that wondrous glow worn; cave at Waitomo To drift silently on a Maori canoe int< this extensively watered cave, the ceiling of which is a glowing mass of soft, phosphorescence, is an experijnee neve r to be forgotten. „ There- is said, to be > nothing like if in any other part/of the . world;. For many years' the Maori guarded , its '. sacred secret; but even'-'more * than, other shrines, of ancient’'worship. . it is now. looked upon as an unrivalled. commercial prospect. The 'slightest ' noise, will envelop the visitors'in utter darkness.: - • ‘ ~ ■ The world has to thank G. V. Hudson, of Wellington, for all that is yet known of the glow worm, which, after all, is hot a worm, but the larvae of a gnat. Its tiny: burrow in the moist earth is protected by a fine web. Into this it re- '- treats , at the slightest alarm and extinguishes its torch. When touched, but only when shining, the phosphorescence may be transferred to one’s hand. ’ s * The Earth Worm.

/The tarao (without scales), or earth worm, of many varieties, differs in the South from the species in the North, and ranges .from half an inch up to the unique giant species of four teet found only on Little Barrier Island. In literal ture the world over,' a worm is the symbol of contempt, of, even, disgust.; “A' man may fish with the worm that hath eat of a king; and eat of a fish that hath > fed ,of that worm.” , • Other than in the case of the old-time Maori, there seems to be no record ol the. worm being used as food in any part of. the world. In close touch with nature, the Maori saw that the daintiest birdk found their choicest morsel in the wbrm; and the “bob” of wriggling worms, threaded upon dressed flax was the. most favoured of his-enticing baits for fish. Naturally he followed their example; but later on, surfeit upon its subtle delicacy also bred loathing. Perhaps even thus the abstinence of all mankind arose, and Mother Nature jeaL ously guarded our very best'cultivatorsin order that they should till the soil for lis.

The Walking Stick.

The wairaka (moving gently) is the “walking-stick insect.” Among these/-in-sects, especially in the Tropics, are the largest insects in the world, measuring up to 12 inches. Not only the largest, they have also the most fantastic shapes, and are named Soldiers, Devil’s Horse, (Phantoms, Spectres, Walking; Leaves, Animate Sticks, etc. Many.have wings,but N6W Zealanders are perfect counterparts'of £he twigs in the vicinity. Either they assiiinb the colour and shape of the nearest trees, or they choose those / most suited to hide their 'own appearance. ' ‘ •

.They, are gentle rind comparatively to the vegetation upon which they feed! They Tie stretched on a twig with their long, hair-like antennae on the stem iii front, enjoying the sun hour after hour, The hind legs are invariably than the front. Rubbed to-; gether, they produce a creaking sound, at beat but a poor love song, and used only, by the male serenader. French children keep the walking sticks and their relatives the cockchafers and the praying mantis in little bamboo cages for this curious “music,” which is like the untuned scraping on a violin. The Cricket. .

The pihareinga (a rippling sound), is Charles Dickens’ familiar cricket. Southern New' Zealand is too cold for these insects, but there are millions in the far North. The chirping sound is produced by rubbing the hard wing surface against the horny thighs. Unlike tier human sister,'the female cricket is silent, and only the male chants this lqv« song. That of the wood cricket sounds like the patter 'of raindrops falling on . . the leaves. There appear to be three distinct varieties, some of which in tropical countries grow to the size of a small bird. The forelegs are model topis ■for excavating ■ the soil, and they are adepts at tunnelling beneath a garden or a cultivated field, where they play havoc with the roots. ■ .: ' ~ Though, black, ugly and noisy, the cricket is prized by African Negroes 'for its untuneful “song,” and. is kept in a cage like a canary. A system of ingenL ous underground burrows where rsin water is excluded, hold the eggs in thou-?: - sands, and house the larvae for its three i.( . years’ development. They are'-, long livers, and • some attain an age of at .. least 10 'years. The Frog. The pepeke (to hurry) is the New Zealand frog. Being found only in a few outlying islands and remote spots, it •' ' has only recently become known as one of our indigenous curiosities. Since tho arrival and spread of his European an- '• cestor, the Maori variety may or mily not' have become extinct or absorbed. There is no record of the Maori ever having eaten the pepeke. It was'' too much like the ngarara (lizards), of which lie stood in superstitious awe; So firmly implanted was this horror of reptiles, that had the Maori even suspected that the first French colonists* were frog caters, they would never have dared to molest them, and much less would they have been the victims of a cannibal feast. There' is something fascinating in the frog. Though tradition has given it sinister attributes, it is harmless, and probably confers great benefit upon us by purifying stagnant waters. Its hind feet' •are uncannily like a lady’s shapely hand. The Toheroa. The toheroa (a long tongue) is named from the protruding fleshy ligament with which this delicately-flavoured bivalve rapidly works its way 10 inches below the surface of. hard, wet sands of the seashore, always where fresh water also abounds. It is found in comparatively restricted localities, and this rarity constitutes its sole claim for preference to the universal pipi, its smaller brother. Toheroa tinned soup, has 'licklcd thri popular palate at home and a bro ?is.. ' tettainly a delicacy, and, islprodtus .1 unh in New Zealand.