THE MOA.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1466, 16 April 1873, Page 3

THE MOA.

Mr Robert W. Aitkin, of Clifden, Waiau, writes as follows to the Southland Times: — I have seen a paragraph . in the Otago Daily Times, stating that a live moa had been seen on the Waiau lately, and that tracks and foot marks had been repeatedly seen by the runholder on whose country the bird was said to exist. An intelligent shepherd is stated to have brought in a story to the following effect: — "He started the bird itself out of a patch of manuka scrub with his sheep dog. The bird ran from the dog till it reached the brow of a terrace above him, and some thirty or forty yards off, when it turned on the dog, which immediately ran in to the shepherd's heel. The Moa (he did not use the word " Moa," but said " a large bird") stood for fully ten minutes on the brow of the terrace, bending its long neck up and down exactly as the black swan does when disturbed. It is described as being very much higher than any emu ever seen in Australia, and . as standing much more erect on its legs. The color of its feathers is described as a sort of silvery grey, with greenish 3treaks through it." A shepherd lately in my employment certainly brought in a story almost identical with the above. For his " intelligence" I certainly would not vouch, and no confirmation of his tale has yet been found, although a careful search has been made, both for the bird and for tracks. These, Mr Editor, are the facts. I think nevertheless that if the moa still survives, the western bank of the Waiau is as likely a place as any in the Island in which to expect it might be found.