THE GREY WARBLER OR RIRORIRO.
I he following is one of the Maori legends relating to the reason why the name Riroriro, which means “gone away,” was given to the grey warbler.
Ha-tupatu lived at Horohoro, Rotorua district. He was carried off to the forest by an ogress, but managed to escape one day when she was in the forest spearing birds. These birds she speared by means of transfixing them on her long finger nails. On her return from the forest, a small bird informed her of Ha-tupatu’s escape by calling out “Riro! Riro! Riro !” which means “absent— away.” Hence that bird has since been known as the Riroriro.”
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/FORBI19270401.2.13
Bibliographic details
Forest and Bird, Issue 12, 1 April 1927, Page 11
Word Count
110THE GREY WARBLER OR RIRORIRO. Forest and Bird, Issue 12, 1 April 1927, Page 11
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