1849. W. T. Power, `Sketches in New Zealand,' p. 74:
«This bird gave rise to a rather amusing incident in the HuttValley during the time of the fighting. . . . A strongpiquet was turned out regularly about an hour before daybreak.On one occasion the men had been standing silently under armsfor some time, and shivering in the cold morning air, when theywere startled by a solemn request for `more pork.' The officerin command of the piquet, who had only very recently arrived inthe country, ordered no talking in the ranks, which wasimmediately replied to by another demand, distinctlyenunciated, for `more pork.' So malaprop a remark produced atitter along the ranks, which roused the irate officer to thenecessity of having his commands obeyed, and he accordinglythreatened to put the next person under arrest who dared makeany allusion to the unclean beast. As if in defiance of thethreat, and in contempt of the constituted authorities, `morepork' was distinctly demanded in two places at once, and wassucceeded by an irresistible giggle from one end of the line tothe other. There was no putting up with such a breach ofdiscipline as this, and the officer, in a fury of indignation,went along the line in search of the mutinous offender, whensuddenly a small chorus of `more pork' was heard on all sides,and it was explained who the real culprits were.»
1866. Lady Barker, `Station Life in New Zealand,' p. 100:
«The last cry of a very pretty little owl, called from itsdistinctly uttered words the `more-pork.'»
1884. T. Bracken, `Lays of Maori,' p. 84:
«Sleeping alone where the more-pork's call
At night is heard.»
1888. W. L. Buller, `Birds of New Zealand,' vol. i. p. 192:
« Spiloglaux Novae-Zelandiae, Kaup., More-pork of thecolonists. Every New Zealand colonist is familiar with thislittle owl, under the name of `morepork.'»