THE KOTUKU.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2046, 25 October 1919, Page 3

THE KOTUKU.

The appearance of the Koluku at Foxton has called forth some interesting correspondence in the Wellington papers. The bird has not been seen locally for some days, and has presumably left us. In conversation with Mr Frank Robin-son, we were informed that in the early days these birds were always to be seen on (he margin of the lakes on the Herrington estate. Mr il. 11. Travers, of Wellington, writes as follows on the subject to (he N.Z. Times: —“The appearance of a specimen of the above bird at Foxton is ini cresting. The scientific name is Herodia< rinorensns, Maori name “kutuku.” Its range is from China and Japan, through the Malay Archipelago to Australia and New Zealand, It was not, even in (he early days before (he while man made his appearance in this country, common in the North Island, but was much more so in the Middle Island. It was found chiefly on the margin of rivers and lakes. A small lake not far from Christchurch, on the old West Coast road, was named Lake Heron by the late T. 11. Potts, who was greatly interested in the native birds in consequence of the number of those birds to be seen there. I knew of one that lived, off and on, by a small lagoon near the Upper Waiauau river, whose source is in the Spencer mountains, for many years, A few were often seen round the West Wanganui inlet, west coast of Nelson, and one was seen there recently. I quote now Hutton and Drummond’s work on our animals; —‘There is still a heronry at Okarito, on the West Coast. Mr Potts and his sons in 1871 counted twenty nests in trees in close association with the white-throated .-diag. The nests were Urmly made with sticks, and contained three or four pale green eggs. Ihe female commences laying in the third week in November, and incubates for four weeks. The young birds remain in the nest for a considerable time. In the breeding season both sexesAlevclop beautiful dorsal plumes, well known to milliners by the name of “egrets.” The Maoris placed a high value on the plumes of the white heron. Among the people who lived in the fastnesses .of Puhoe Land, and also probably in other places, the i>lumes were tapu. It a man wore one while eating, no woman might join in the meal unless the wearer took.it oft and placed it on one side. It was supposed that if a woman persisted in joining in the meal she would become bald. When {lying, the head is kept far hack, the tip of the bill being behind the forward curve of the neck, and the legs are stretched out straight behind, 'flic large rounded wings beat slowly. but the progress of-the bird is rapid.’ ”