THE MOA OF NEW ZEALAND.—NATIVE TRADITIONS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 703, 28 April 1852, Page 4

THE MOA OF NEW ZEALAND.—NATIVE TRADITIONS.

[From Montell’s Fossils in the British Museum.] “In various districts of New Zealand there had been occasionally observed in the beds of the mountain torrents and rivers bones of several kinds ol birds of almost incredible magnitude. The Maoris or natives were acquainted with the occurrence of such bones long ere the country was visited by Europeans; and traditions were rife among them that a race of gigantic birds formerly existed in great numbers, and served as lood to their remote ancestors. They also believed that some of the largest species had ■ been seen alive within the memory of man ; and I that individuals were still existing in the unfre- | quented and inaccessible parts of the country. 1 hey called the bird Moa, and stated that its head and tail were adorned with plumes of magnificent feathers, which were worn and much prized by their ancient chiefs as ornaments of distinction. The bones were sought for with avidity, and were used in the manufacture of lures for fish-hooks and ether implements.” * # -3 “In 1840 and 184", my eldest son, Mr. Walter Mantel), of Wellington, who had resided severs, years in the colony, explored every known locality of these fossil bones, within his reach in the North Island, and went into the interior of the country, and located with the natives for the purpose of collecting specimens, and of ascertaining whether any of these gigantic birds were still in existence; resolving, if there appeared to be the least chance of success, to penetrate into the unfrequented regions, and obtain a live Moa. The information gathered from the natives, offered no encouragement to follow up the pursuit, but tended to confirm the idea that this race of colossal bipeds was extinct; the last individuals having, in all probability like the Dodo, been exterminated by human agency, within a comparatively recent period : or that if any of the species whose bones occur in a fossil stale are still living, they will prove to be of comparatively small types related to the Apteryx, the living diminutive representative of the stupendous ostrich-like birds which once trod the soil of New Zealand. My son succeeded, however, in forming the most interesting collection of these remains hitherto obtained. It comprised between seven and eight hundred bones belonging to birds of various species and genera, and differing considerably in magnitude and age ; some belonging to very young individuals of which the epiphyses of the long bones are distinct front the shaft twhile others are those of adult and aged birds. The chief part of his collection is deposited in the Table-cases 15, 10, 17.”