FOUND IN THE BUSH

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3665, 31 December 1920, Page 4

FOUND IN THE BUSH

SIX DAYS OLD Seventeen miles from any house, near the bank of the Harris River, West Australia. This is nearly three years ago, and it was then six days old. Nx>w that it has developed it has proved itself to be the most wonderful curiosity in the world. The curiosity was reared ,by Mrs Gunning Davis, a lady of West Australia, who has brought the above to New Zealand? per s.s. Ulimaroa, from Tasmania, with the object" of exhibiting it at the Athletic Club's Sports at Taihape tomorrow. The bird is a handsome Wjhjte JOrpington ,¥owl, having two bodies within the one frame. The left side of the remarkable creature is male, and the right side female. It has four legs, two of them coining from' the spine. It crows like a rooster and cackles like a hen. The most notable . features are its feathers. The curiosity walks like an ostrich, flies like a pheasant, makes its own nest, and is the father of many chickens. The hen lays an egg, which is not fertile. Never before has anyons had the opportunity afforded them of seeing such a re. markable scientific wonder The explanation is that the bird is a throwback from at least 25,000 years ago. In short, it is really a prehistoric bird, and is valued at £2OOO. Don T t mis?, ihis wonderful creature. It is genuine. Tie wonder-bird was seen in Brisbane by the. Prince of Wales and party, and His Royal Highness was keenly interested. With characteristic humour he remarked: "What other wonder are they going to show me reared in the colonies?" Over 4000 people paid to see this bird at Auckland.