Austral English Part 143

"Odd `Korrumburras' dodge quickly about with cheerful hum.

Where they go, these busy buzzy flies, when the cold calls them away for their winter vac. is a mystery. Can they hibernate?

for they show themselves again at the first glint of the spring sun."

Kotuku, n. Maori name for the White Crane of the Colonists, which is really a White Heron (Ardea egretta). See Crane.

1888. W. L. Buller, `Birds of New Zealand,' vol. ii. p. 124:

[A full description.]

Kotukutuku, n. Maori name for the New Zealand tree, Fuchsia excorticata, Linn., N.O. Onagrariea; written also Kohutuhutu. This name is not much used, but is corrupted into Tookytook (q.v.). See Konini and Fuchsia.

1883. J. Hector, `Handbook of New Zealand,' p. 127:

"Kotukutuku. The fruit is called konini. A small and ornamental tree, ten to thirty feet high ... a durable timber... . The wood might be used as dye-stuff ... Its fruit is pleasant and forms princ.i.p.al food of the wood-pigeon."

Kowhai, n. Maori name given to--

(1) Locust-tree, Yellow Kowhai (Sophora tetraptera, Aiton, N.O. Leguminosae).

(2) Parrot-bill, Scarlet Kowhai (Clianthus puniceus, N.O. Leguminosae), or Kaka-bill (q.v.).

Variously spelt Kowai and Kohai, and corrupted into Goai (q.v.) by the settlers.

1845. E. J. Wakefield, `Adventures in New Zealand,' vol. i.

p. 58:

"The kohai too, a species of mimosa covered with bright yellow blossoms, abounds in such situations where the stunted growth is an almost unvarying sign of constant inundation."

[Mr. Wakefield was mistaken. The Kohai is not a mimosa.]

1872. A. Domett, `Ranolf,' p. 261:

"`Tis the Kowhai, that spendthrift so golden But its kinsman to Nature beholden, For raiment its beauty to fold in, Deep-dyed as of trogon or lory, How with parrot-bill fringes 'tis burning, One blood-red mound of glory!"

1873. `New Zealand Parliamentary Debates,' No. 16, p. 863:

"Kowai timber, thoroughly seasoned, used for fencing posts, would stand for twelve or fourteen years; while posts cut out of the same bush and used green would not last half the time."

1882. T. H. Potts, 'Out in the Open,' p. 146:

"The head of the straight-stemmed kowhai is already crowned with racemes of golden blossoms."

1883. J. Hector, `Handbook of New Zealand, p. 131:

"Kowhai--a small or middling-sized tree... . Wood red, valuable for fencing, being highly durable ... used for piles in bridges, wharves, etc."

1884. T. Bracken, `Lays of Maori,' p. 21:

"The dazzling points of morning's lances Waked the red kowhai's drops from sleep."

Kuku, or Kukupa, n. Maori name for the New Zealand Fruit-pigeon (q.v.), Carpophaga novae-zelandiae, Gmel. Called also Kereru.

The name is the bird's note.

1820. `Grammar and Vocabulary of Language of New Zealand'

(Church Missionary Society), p. 170:

"Kuku, s. the cry of a pigeon."

1855. Rev. R. Taylor, `Te Ika a Maui,' p. 406:

"Family Columbidae--kereru, kukupa (kuku, Carpophaga Novae Zealandiae), the wood-pigeon. This is a very fine large bird, the size of a duck; the upper part of the breast green and gold, the lower a pure white, legs and bill red. It is a heavy flying bird, and very stupid, which makes it an easy prey to its enemies. The natives preserve large quant.i.ties in calabashes, taking out the bones; these are called kuku."

Ibid. p. 183:

"The pigeon bears two names--the kuku and kukupa, which are common to the isles."

1881. J. L. Campbell, `Poenamo,' p. 115:

"The kukupa ... was just the bird created expressly for the true c.o.c.kney sportsman--the one after his heart ... for if not brought down by the first shot, why he only shakes his feathers and calmly waits to be shot at again!"

1883. F. S. Renwick, `Betrayed,' p. 45:

"The kuku, plaintive, wakes to mourn her mate."

k.u.mara, or k.u.mera, n. (p.r.o.nounced Koomera), a Maori word for an edible root, the yam or sweet potato, Ipomaea batatas, N.O. Convolvulaceae.

There are numerous varieties. It should be added that it is doubtful whether it grows wild in New Zealand.

1773. Sydney Parkinson, `Journal of a Voyage to the South Seas' (see extract in `Transactions of New Zealand Inst.i.tute,'

`Manibus Parkinsonibus Sacrum,' W. Colenso, vol. x. art. ix.

p. 124):

"Several canoes came alongside of the s.h.i.+p, of whom we got some fish, k.u.meras or sweet potatoes, and several other things."

1828. `Henry William Diarys' (in Life by Carleton), p. 69:

"k.u.mara had been planted over the whole plain."

1830. Ibid. p. 79:

"We pa.s.sed over the hill, and found the a.s.sailants feasting on the k.u.mara, or sweet potato, which they just pulled up from the garden at which they had landed."

1851. Mrs. Wilson, `New Zealand,' p. 49:

"He saw some fine peaches and k.u.maras or sweet potatoes."

1852. G. C. Mundy, `Our Antipodes,' c. xi. p. 273 (3rd edition, 1855)

"The k.u.mara or sweet potato is a most useful root."