THE NOTORNIS MANTELLI.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2228, 19 April 1881, Page 2

THE NOTORNIS MANTELLI.

A very interesting discussion took place a few days back at a meeting of the Otago Institute, when Professor Parker exhibited the skin and body of this extremely rare and remarkable bird. The Notornis Mantelli was, for many years after the arrival of the first settlers in New Zealand, considered to be extinct. The Maoris had indeed a tradition of a large descriptian of rail, but the stories of it were placed alongside the stories relating to Moas, for the half fossilised bones of the Notornis were dug up along with those of the Moa. At last, however, some sailors sealing in Preservation Inlet were fortunate enough to capture a specimen, and some little time afterwards another was secured, and the shins of both were forwarded by Mr, Mantell to the British Museum, From that time to this no further specimen has been captured. Professor Von Haast, indeed, when exploring in the ranges many years ago, saw, as mentioned in his reports issued at that time, the footprints of a large bird corresponding to the Notornis, but the creature was so shy as not to put in an appearance. The bird in shape is somewhat like a pukiko, and is as bulky as a turkey. Its habitat is the high and snowy mountain districts, and this fact, together with its shyness, evidently makes the few of the race still alive extremely hard to get at. The specimen exhibited in Dunedin—the third ever captured—was caught somewhat low down the ranges. In the discussion that ensued, the great interest attaching to the bird was naturally much dwelt upon. The fact that a bird, whose bones have been turned up in considerable numbers along with those of the Moa, should, however rare, still live, would load one to suppose that the latter bird cannot have been extinct for any lengthened period. Whether the Moa was alive when the Maoris first came to this country has long been a subject of debate; the existence of the Notornis would seem to give a strong probability to the supposition that it was. There is all likelihood that an expedition will be fitted out for the capture of more of these birds. A subscription list has been opened, and we may trust that ere long we may hear more of these interesting phenomena. The value of the present specimen may be gathered from the fact that it has been insured for £l5O.