The Huia Bird.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 18 July 1910, Page 4

The Huia Bird.

A very interesting loiter by Mr James hrumitfond, F.L.b., *.•£•»•> m the efforts to save the lima, from ixterniination in New Zealand, appears in the Spectator of May 14. Mr Dnimmciivd says:— "Naturalists in many parts ol the world are interested in efforts made ,v Mr A. Hamilton, director ot the Dominion Museum, in Wellington, N'ew Zealand, to obtain several pairs of live shiiia birds. He is *yting under instructions from, the -Now /en\mA Government, which has decided to .have specimens of these burcta placed on the bird sanctuary on the T/ittle Barrier Island, near Auckland City, so that they may l>o prewrved from extinction, -which, it is feared, awaits them. . "The huia is a handsome greenisliblack bird, about the same size as aiv English crow. It 'lies on ivory liill and a white-tipped tail, a-iKi these two characteristics term <a striking contrast to its sombre plumacre. It lives exclusively in a smaW, mountainous, and largely district in the North Island of New Zealand. It was plentiful enough when Europeans first settled in the wmirtry, over half a century ago. but its numbers have been reduced so rapidly that there are fears that it may before very long become absolutely extinct, unless some steps are token to enable it to combat the forces that have come, against it with the advent of civilisation. "Its'decrease is largely accounted for. by the vanity of human nature. Its beautiful tail feathers were worn in the hair by maori 'rongitiras, or nobles, and were regarded as insignia of rank. The idea caught caught the fancy of Europeans, especially tourists, who liked to go from Kf Zealand to other couneries and dasplay the feathers of a beautiful bird, which might have been worn by noble, and barbarous chiefs in a savage land. A traffic in the feathers soon sprang up. and as high prices were paid, .Maoris were encouraged tc carry on a heavy slaughter. A correspondent told me. recently that in the east coast of the Wellington province, £1 each was paid for the feathers. As a result, the bird has been completely exterminated ill that district. ".Although the ancient Maoms killed large numbers of hitias for bin sake of their .feathers, these depredations did not check the birds' increase. There lived at Castlepoint in Wellington province, some 30 01 40 years ago, an eccentric old duel and 'toliunga,' or priest, named , Pi pimoho. He was believed: to be tlu only person in that part of the pro vin'ce who knew where many huia; could be found and liow they ougirl to bo caught. For many years nm hunting was bis only occupation ■Regularly once a year lie went f-ron MitTeoast t othe inland forests toob taii.ii tail-feathers for. the 'principa. chiefs of Hwke's Bay, who wore hi! superiors in rank. In the old <'ay< in New Zealand it was not uncom mon for Maoris to keop liuias in cap tivity. When the birds -renehe* maturity the precious feathers wort plucked. Although they .•Wβ n-atur allv very wildi and shy. they tlmiv< well in' captivity. They beconii tame, amiable and affectionate. Tlu late Sir Walter Buller. the anthoi of 'A History of the Birds of Nev Zealand,' kept a female huia, whioJ knew him well, and ■welcomed: hi; approach by making a melodiou: chirping note. Many years ago : livo specimen was sent to the Zoo logical Gardens in London. It wa: the centre of much attraction fo; some time, but its life could note bi preserved. "Tt is 16 or 17 years since bird lovers in New Zealand first realise* that a great danger beset the hui: bird, and that it might be lost to tin dominion. Lord Onslow, whei Gov'ornor of Now Zealand, was tin first person to take a practical ste] to secure legal protection for tin bird. Tn 1892 he wrote a long an< eloquent .memoranduim to Mr Join Biillance, who was then Premier a skins: that the liuia should be pio tectod, and that live specimens, to gother with NEW ZEALAND'S crows and thrushes, shoiuu "be placet in sanctuary. Lord Onslow had : personal interest in. the bird. li ancient days an incident coiinecte< with the wearing of the /tail-feather, led to a great tribe of Maoris t< adopt the Julia's name as a triiba designation. When Ixrd Onslow', son was born in New Zealand In was named after the Xgaitihuia trilx —that is, 'the children of the liuia. At a great gathering of the tribe when the Hon. Huia Onslow, in bii infancy, was presented to the tribes men, one of the leading men, in tin picturesque language of the Maor nice, demanded that the bird ron which the tribe had taken its nam< should be protected. 'There yon dor,' he said, pointing to the darl mountains in the distance, 'is tin snow-clad Ruahine Range, the homi of our favourite bird. We ask you 0 Governor, to resthain the whitu people from shooting it, so that whei your son grows up he may see tin beautiful bird that beairsliis name. The Premier fell in with the suggos tion, -and the huia, which is tho firs bird protected in .New Zealandi foi its own sake, was gazetted under tin Wild Birds' Protection Act. Xo at tompt was made to place it in sanctuary, however, and. THE SLAUGHTER, though checked, has been conitimiet until quite recently. "Mr Hamilton has gone up Mit< bhe mountains several (times wit! Maori buia-hunters, but his missioi 'ias not been successful. The bin lias become so rare that he has noi )een able even to see it. Anothei ittempt will be made soon, and scientists in 'New Zealand hope that i 1 .rill result in several pairs of these interesting bird sheing placed on is and sanctuaries."