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Ranolf and Amohia

IV.—Natural Objects

page 504

IV.—Natural Objects.

Though everything introduced into the poem relating to animals and plants is of course from actual observation, I think it as well, in confirmation of my remarks, and as most of the objects themselves must be strange to English, readers, to give their scientific names and some brief notices of them, extracted from such books as I could readily come at.

1.—Trees and Shrubs.

Page
1. Rata Order, Myrtaceæ; Genus, Metrosideros; Species, M. robusta. A magnificent flowering-tree described afterwards, p. 264.
2. Koromiko O. Scrophularinæ; G. Veronica. Dr. Hooker describes forty species, and says,—" In New Zealand it form a more conspicuous feature of the vegetation than in any other country: from the number, beauty, and ubiquity of the species: from so many forming large bushes, and from the remarkable forms the genus presents."
7. Asphodel (Ti) O. Liliaceæ; G. Cordyline; S. C. Australis. "Leaves ensifrom, two feet long, one and a half inch broad. Trunk ten to forty feet high. Flowers densely crowded." This genus, with others, forming the family Asphodeleæ, are included by Dr. Hooker in the O. Liliaceæ
7. "Tree-fern O. Filices; G. Cyathæa; S. C. dealbata, or Silver-fern, "Trunk twelve to forty feet high."
11. Flax (harakeka &c.). O …Liliaceæ; G. Phormium; S. Ph. tenax Profusc in Swamps and elsewhere throughout the islands. Used " as hemp and flax.
11. Suppplejack (Ka- Reao) O. Liliaceæ; G. Rhipogonum; S. R. Scandens.
16. Convolvulus O. Convolvulaceæ; G. Convolvulus. Five species—Mostly white or rosehued
16. Clematis (See note to p. 260 below.)
16. Alectryon(Titoki) O. Sapindaceæ; G. Alectryon; S. A. excelsum.
103. Tutu or Tupaki O Coriariæ; G. Coriaria; S. C. ruscifolia. A large bush, with deep green leaves. "The juice of the berries fruit hangs in thick fringes. The seeds "produce convulsions, delirium, and death.
105. Coffee-bush (Ka-ramu) O. Rubiaceæ (?) G. Coprosma (?) Several species. Fruit and seeds like small coffee berries, in scarlet colour, arrangement, and taste.page 505
107. Kowhai-flowers (See note below, p. 261.)
107. Totára O. Coniferæ; G. Padocarpus; S. P. totara. "The Swamp-totara, P- dacrydioides, grows to 150 feet in height. P totara, from which canoes are made," to a less height. "Bark used for roofing
108 Karaka O. Anacardiaceæ; G. Corynocarpus; S. C. lævigate. "Tree, forty feet high; berries two to three inches long;" orange-coloured eaten as food.
108 Tawhiri O. pittosporeæ; G. Pittosporum; S. P. cornifolium. A large shrub; many varieties; leaves of some highly scented.
108 Kiekie (parasite) O. Pandaneæ; G. Freycinetia; S. Freycinetia Banksii. " A lofty climber; the bracts and young spike make a very sweet preserve." Grows in forks of trees, &c Fleshy leaves of flower like soft, bitter-sweet apple.
111. locust – trees (Kowhai) (See note to p.261.)
117. Rimu-tree O. Coniferæ; G. Dracrydium; S. D. cupressinum. "Tree pyramidal, branches weeping, trunk eighty feet high, four to five feet diameter."
123. Fungus-balls O. Fungi; Sub-order. Gasteromycetes; Tribe, Tricho-gastres. "Hymenium or fructifying surface, dries up into a dusty mass of microscopic threads or spores."
131. Fern-root O. Filices; G. Pteris; S. Pteris aquilina, of which a variety is Pteris esculenta—edible fern. "Common in the south temperate zone."
131. Kumara (sweet Patoto) O. Convolvulaceæ ; G. Ipomœa; S. Batatus edulis.
131. Taro O. Pandaneæ; (Aroideæ); G. Caladum; S. Caladum esculentum. "A staple article of food in many parts of the Old World." A root something like the kumara—but whiter, firmer, and less sweet.
132. Tupaki or Tutu. (See above, note to p. 103.)
134. Toë-toë (See note to p. 172 below.) the term "toë" alluding to the light large flower of this grass is used metaphorically precisely us we use the word " chaff."
149. Mánuka O. Myrtaceæ; G. Leptospermum; S. L. scoparium, or L. ericoidés. "A large shrub or small tree: leaves used as tea in Tasmania and Australia, where the plant is equally abundant" In the poem it is called indiscriminately manuka, broom, broom like myrtle, or leptosperm. The settlers often call it 'tea-broom.'
149. Green rushes) (Raupo) O. Typhaceæ G. Typha; S. T. angustifolia. "Extensively used for making walls."page 506
172. Sword-grass(Toë-toë) O. Gramineæ; G. Arundo; S. A. conspicua. "The largest New Zealand grass; confined to these island; culms three to eight ten) feet high; used for thatch and lining houses with reed-work."
213. Ferns Dr. Hooker describes 120 ferns—forty-five species and one genus being peculiar 10 New Zealand; sixty common to it, Australia, and Tasmania; and nine to it and Great Britain.
221. Azolla-stains O. Marsiliaceæ; G. Azolla; S. A. rubra. "Plant floating, fanning small red patches."
233. Puriri. O. Verbenaceæ; G. Vitex; S. V. littoralis. "A large tree, fifty to one hundred feet high; trunk twenty feet in girth." Common along the northern coasts.
234. Totaras. (Note to p. 107.)
236. Laurel-tree (Tarairi) O. Laurineæ; G. Nesodaphne; S. N. Tarairi." A forest tree sixty to eighty feet high; berry one and a half inches long, purple."
253. Titoki. (Note to p. 16.)
254. Savory Palm- Tree (Nakau) O. Palmeæ; G. Areca ; S. A. sapida.
260. Parasite-myrtle(Rata). (Note to P. I.)
260. King-pine (Kauri) O. Coniferæ; G. Dammara; S, D Australis "The famous Kauri-pine; some near zoo feet high and forty feet in girth."
260. Fuschia-tree O. Onagrariæ; G. Fuschia; S. F. excorticata. "Often three feeet in diameter. A very large S. American and expecially Andean genus of most beautiful plants; found no-where in the Old World but in New Zealand."
260. Clematis. O. Ranunculaceæ; G. Clematis; S.C indivisa. "A large, strong, woody climber with trunk often half a foot in diameter. Flowers most climber with trunk often half a foot in diameter. Flowers most abundantly produced; white; sweet-scented; according to Sir J. Banks and Dr. Solander, abundant throughout the islands-festooning the trees." Floeers, seven-petalled stars, three-and-one-eighth inches diameter.
261. Kowhai (yellow) or Locust-tree) O. Leguminosæ; G. Sophora; S. S. tetraptera. An acacia – like tree with abundant yellow pendant flower.
261. Kowhai (scarlet or Parrot-bill) O. Leguminosæ; G. Clianthus; S.C. puniceus. "One of the most beautiful plants known." Long fringes of crimson flowers—like lobster claws, or, in the natives' eyes, parrots' bills; so they call it' ngutu-kaka' the 'parrot-billed.'
261. Eyrybia O. Compositæ; G. Olearia; Many species. Broad-leaved shrubs; under-side of leaf furry white.page 507
264. Creeper-fern. O. Filiees; G. Polypodium; S. P. rupestre (Niphobolus rupestris).
275. Lycopod Lycopodium volubile, or L. densum.
289. "Twine of pickles" O. Rosaceæ; G. Rubus; S. R. Australia. "A lofty climber, armed with scattered recurved prickles branches very slender—pendulous."
302. Amaranthine- All the indigenous trees and shrubs of New Zealand are evergreen green except the Fuschia-tree.
311. Downy iron heart(Pohutu kawa) O. Myrtaceæ; G. Metrasideros; S. M. tomentosa. This most lovely tree is common about the northern coasts and cliffs of the North Island and the banks of Lake Tarawera.
312. Pepper - spikes (fruit or catkin of the kawa kawa) O. Piperaceæ; G. Piper; S. P. excelsum. "Catkins slender, one to four inches long."
312. Poro-poro (Po-tato-apples of) O. Solaneæ; G. Solanum; S. S. aviculare and S. nigrum "Berry ovoid, edible, one to one-and-a-half inch long; three-quarters inch thick." Sweet and rather richly flavoured when quite ripe.
360. Hinau-berries. O. Tiliaceæ; G. Elæocarpus; S. E. dentatus and E. Hookerianus. "A small tree with brown bark which yields a permanent dye Drupe one-third to one-half inch long; pulp edible."

All the above names (with the exception of that in the first note to p. 105), and all the remarks included in inverted commas, are from The Handbook to the Flora of New Zealand, by Dr. J. D. Hooker, whose very valuable services in connection with the botany of that country are highly appreciated by the Colonial Government and Parliament; as well as by the numerous colonists interested in the subject.

2.—Birds and Insects.

94. Hooopoë-feathers Fam. Upupidæ; Heteralocha Acutirostris. A beautiful bird); black shining plumage: tips of toil feathers while; bright orange wattles. "That it possesses strong affinities to the Hoopoes is certain."—Dr. BulleR (history of New Zealand Birds, now publishing.)
103. Wingless locust…..Deinacrida heteracantha. From some rough notes on this (not attractive) insect I made years ago I extract the following:—"This curious locust is found in soft decaying trees; its body and hind legs are in shapt like a grasshopper's its colour is pale reddish or page 508Yellowish white beneath, and up the edges of the abdominal rings, head, and back, deep brown. The head of the male is set on perpendicularly, with a hard round fore bead, like an elephant's, the head being with the jaws two-thirds as long as the rest of the body. Eyes staring and prominent, two-thirds as long as the rest of the body. Eyes staring and prominent, two very long antennæ" (sometimes, say's Dieffenbach," with the body reaching to fourteen inches) "between them; them; the labrum long and large; from beneath it raises and lets fall like a portcullis, over the two enormous toothed mandibles hanging on each side surving towards each other at their ends; black and an eighth of an inch in breadth and thickness each, which increase the resemblance to the elephant's head, &c. (Much more about geniculated palpi, 'fleshy tongue,'&C.) Tibiæ of hind legs have a row of strong spines at the back, on each side, projecting outwards. It has a large stomach opening into a gizzard, which is of really beautiful structure; more than one-eighth of an inch in diameter, bluish-white in colour, oval-shaped, hard; cut open, shews interior surface fluted with a number of toothed or serrated ridges meeting at the ends like lines on a currant or meridian lines on a globe; the green be getable-looking wet ground contents of stomach evidently passed through it. These creatures hop feeble, and being teased, run towards the teasing object as if butting with the head. They smell like shrimps or shell fish."
105 Green parrakee.Psittacidæ; Two species, Platycercus Auriceps and P. Novæ Zealandiæ. First has a yellow, second a crimson crest. "General plumage bright grass green."—Buller.
105 Kingfisher Alcedinidæ; Halcyon vagans.
105 Ichneumon fly Ichneumonidæ. The species alluded to is about the size and shape of a wasp; thorax pure golden: abdomen bright ruddy brown: both very hard.
119. Cuttlefish Cephalopods are common about the coasts of New Zealand
131. Crayfish three or four inches long are caught in abundance in the central lakes in manner described.
138. 'Tui,' the. Par-son-bird or Poe'-bird 'of Copt. Cook Melliphagidæ; Prosthemadera Novæ Zealandiæ. "Splendid bird – woods resound with its tuneful notes." Knight's Museum of Animated Nature.
140. Hawk Falconidæ. The most common species appears to be the Cercus Gouldi; or New Zealand Harrier.—Buller.
159. Cicada Cicadidæ; Cicada cingulata or Cruentata (?) These beautiful insects abound in the islands—biggest one and half inches long, near half inch broad at the head
168 Night-hawk or New Zealand Owl Strigidæ; Spiloglaux Novæ Zealandiæ: (Buller). The "morepork" of the colonists.
173. Wild-pigeon (See note to p. 223.)page 509
194. Jelly-fish. C. Acalephæ; O. Pulmonigrada; G. Medusæ. Size of dinner-plate and smaller; abound in the bays and har-hours; some beautifully marked on the upper surface of disc with radiating scralet lines.
202. Korimako Melliphagidæ; Anthornis melanura.
208. Lizard Scincidæ; Hinulia N. Zealandica (Gray).
209. Phasmid. The"Walking Stick." O. Orthoptera; G. Phasmidæ Several species in New Zealand; mostly admirable imitations of withered twigs or sticks; one with like delicate leaves. Some are brilliant green, covered with thorns-like new shoots of some plants. In my rough notes, alluded to above, I find the following description of some of these very interesting insects I kept under a tumbler;—"These creatures are slow in their movements; leave any limb in the position you place it in; legs sticking up in the air like sprays of branches. The forelegs are joined to the body by a sort of foot-stalk thinner and tinged with red exactly like by a sort of foot-stalk thinner and tinged with red exactly like the petioles or leaf-stalks of some plants; Bodies and limbs long and slender; three to six of seven inches in length-from an eighth to a quarter of an inch in thickness; colour, pale brown inclined to grey, like incipient thorns. The female laid several eggs, eighth of an inch length, oblong, grey, or French white in colour, dry and looking exceedingly like seeds of plants; but crack in breaking and are full of a yellow liquid like yolks of bird's eggs. If the outer skin of the egg dried and broke off on being touched-the yolk had hardened into a gold-coloured grain. They thrust out their forelegs like antennnæ, though they have two of these lattter. As they walk they frequently stop and sway their stick-like bodies, on their legs as if on springs, from side to side, with a slow regular motion, ceasing gradually, as if shaken by a light wind. Stride along pretty quickly if much handled or alarmed. But they will remain a considerable time in any attitudes they may be thrown into, upon their own or each others' backs, perfectly motionless; with their long slender legs up in the air; mimics to the last they have nine abdominal rings, not very strongly marked, but like small bamboo. Eyes of the colour of their bodies; feet hooked. They will stand upright on two hind legs and tail if so placed, their arms (as you are tempted to call them) or rather their middle pair of legs stretched our and upwards, motionless; their forelegs and antennæ held perpendicular and close-joined as if a continuation of their perpendicular and close-joined as if a continuation of their legs high off the ground as if on stilts. These phasmids lived a fortnight as ever. Then the smallest was found dead; limp and as if sucked dry-part if its neck eaten away by its companions. So the rest were killed with spirits of wine. Though looking so dry externally they seem full of a thin watery sap-like fluid."
213. Prophyrio (See note to p. 223.)
218 White Crane Ardeidæ; Herodias flavirostris (?) (Kotuku) The Rev. R. Taylor mentions a native proverb that "A man only sees it once in a life-time;" but it is much less uncommon in the Middle Island.page 510
223. Stock-doves Columbidæ; Columba spadicea, Chestnut-shouldered Pigeon "All the upper part and throat of this beautiful bird are of a changeable hue, with rosy-copper reflections running into brilliant iridescent tints,"—Knight's Museum of Animated Nature.
223. Sultana - birds (Pukeko) F. Rallidæ; G. Porphyrio (the' Poule Sultane' of the) French-Pollo Sultano, Ital.), Porphyrio Melanotus, ib. The New Zealand species has crimson bill; red legs; rich deep-blue breast, rest of plumage velvet-black.
223. Cuckoo F. Cuculidæ; Chrysococcyx lucidus (Gray), Cuculus Nitens (Forster).
223. Parrots Trichoglossidæ; G. Nestor. Dr. Búller gives nine varieties, some splendidly coloured. They are "true flowers-suckers.
224. Albatross Procellaridæ; Diomedea exulans.
232. Kiwi, the Apteryx Struthionidæ Three species.I Apt. Australis, 2. A. Mantelli, 3. A. Owenii. "So extraordinary a bird that the existence of a species possession such a combination of anomalous characters was long denied, wings, trifling rudiments buried beneath general plumage, discovered with difficulty; nostrils at tip of long beak; no vestige of a tail; feathers long, lanceolate, only a single plume from each quill."—Knight's Museum, &c., from descriptions in Transactions of the Zoological society, by Professor Owen and others.
239. Whitebait Eleotris basalis. Abundant.
265. Cormorant. Pelicanidæ; Grauculus punctatus, &C. "Social birds, and build their nests many together on high trees overhanging rivers and coasts."—Gray.
274. Oyster-catcher G. Hæmatopus.
274. Avocet G. Recurvirostra.
282. Moa Struthionidæ; G. I. Dinornis, 3-toed; 2. Palapteryx, 4-toed; S. 13 or 14 described by Prof. Owen. Gigantic wingless birds the massive bones of which are dug up in many parts of the country; nine to ten feet six inches high according to Owen—thirteen or fourteen feet according to others—Kiwi (note to p. 232), apparently the only living representative of the family.
289. Bittern Ardeidæ; Boraurus Melanotus (Gray), Ardea [B.], Australis (Cavier). "Total length two inches."
301. Honey-bird Several species of Melliphagidæ common: including the—
301. Mocking-bird or "Tui" ( Note to p. 138). So called by Captain Cook: and the—page 511
301. Bell-bird or Korimako (Note to p. 202.)
308. Grebe Colymbidæ; G. Podiceps; S.P. cristatus (?) A beautiful crested grebe is found about the fakes in the Middle Island.
314. Dargon flies Libellulidæ; Petalura Carovei. Total length four inches five lines to four inches eight lines—Gray. This species barred black and white. Other commonest species or varieties are about inches long—bright scarlet or bright blue.
347. Blue crane Ardeidæ; Herodias Matuku?
385. Mutton-fish Haliotis Iris. "There are found in colossal specimens." Hochstetter.
474. Sea-windflower Sea-anemones; Actiniæ. Common on some of the rocky coasts.
481. 'A slender beettle' O. Coleoptera; F.Longicornes; Callichroma (Calli-prason) Sinclairi. Gray—who calls it, "This delicately-pretty little Longicorn bettle.
487. Animalcule Allusion to one of the Diatomaceæ (vegetable or animal ) placed under a microscope.

The above chiefly taken from the list of the Fauna of New Zealand, by Dr. Gray of the British Museum, appended to Dieffenbach's New Zealand, vol. ii.

The End.

London: Printed by Smith, Elder & Co., Old Bailey. E.C.