1. In the general shape of this glyph type we can imagine an upside down fish (ika).

It is a fat one, which can be explained from its origin. The origin of growth is in the dark - waxing moon is like a fish rising from the sea and she originates where we cannot see her. The origin of waning is the opposite, the full moon is in plain view and offers a maximum of visibility. Full moon is a fat moon.

The upside down (and fat) fish is a symbol of waning. In the Mamari moon calendar the waning fishes are broad, the waxing lean:

The cycle of the moon offers as a model: invisible new moon, growing (lean and hungry) moon, full (satisfied) moon, and waning (turned upside down like an hour-glass) moon.

This model can then be applied also to other celestial bodies and to their calendrical symbols. Thus, for instance, can a period of night be illustrated either as toa, which exhibits the same general form as an upside down fish, or as rau hei:

Aa1-44	Ha5-45	Pa5-27	Qa5-35
toa	mixture		rau hei

For practical reasons I have defined toa as a glyph type without 'fins'. And if a 'hanging fish' has a 'head' it must be a rau hei glyph. The 'Y-sign' (probably indicating a state of 'straw') is a characteristic of toa glyphs, while rau hei glyphs instead should be in a state of 'leaf'. Ha5-45 and Pa5-27 therefore have signs both of toa and rau hei.