Tkegear. — On the Extinction of the Moa. 415 



position, as though the birds had perished standing. At Glen- 

 mark and Hamilton they were in all positions, as though 

 washed down by a flood, but they were not waterworn. In 

 some places the bones were discovered where rivers debouch 

 on the plains. Other bones have been found on the sites of 

 encampments, and with these have been found flake-knives of 

 chipped stone and instruments of polished stone ; in a few 

 places the instruments are of polished greenstone. Sir James 

 Hector, Dr. Von Hochstetter, and Mr. F. Chapman all testify 

 to the fact of bones being found in large quantities on the 

 surface of the ground ; even the cartilage, skin, and tendons 

 have been preserved on leg-bones and vertebrae. Egg-shells, 

 and eggs enclosing the bones of the young chicks, are now in 

 our museums, and it appears natural enough that a number of 

 adherents should be found to the theory which has been set 

 forth, that the evidence is all in favour of recent extinction, 

 and that therefore the Maori, in his allusions to the moa, must 

 refer to the Dinornis. However, two naturalists — viz., Dr. 

 Von Haast and Professor Hutton — demur to consider the 

 theory proven. 



On the other hand, I will sum up, also as briefly as pos- 

 sible, the argument of the traditionalists. They say that had 

 the Maori known the Dinornis it would have left an ineradi- 

 cable record upon their songs, legends, proverbs, &c. That, 

 while in their mythological tales there are accounts of combats 

 with monstrous taniwha (lizards or crocodiles), with cuttle- 

 fishes, with ogres, with flying-birds, there is no story telling 

 of battles between any god or hero and the moa. That, 

 whereas in the descriptions of the chiefs taking possession of 

 new country all articles of food are mentioned in full detail — 

 parrots, pigeons, tuis, kiwis, eels, even rats — there is no 

 notice taken of the huge food-producing bird. That, although 

 we have incantations and hunting- charms for killing all 

 manner of creatures, — charms recited from priest to priest 

 and from father to son for centuries, — there are no charms 

 for killing the moa. That, while they mention all kinds of 

 pet animals, even the great man-eating lizard of Tangaroa- 

 mihi, and the pet wmale of Tinirau, there is no mention of the 

 moa being tamed (except in one story by Sir Walter Buller, 

 which is alluded to further on). That, while the Maoris 

 possess many precious garments handed down through genera- 

 tions as heirlooms — mats of kiwi- and albatross-feathers, of 

 dog-skins, &c. — there are no mats of moa-feathers. That in 

 the ancient songs and proverbs the word " moa " is very 

 seldom met with, and then something in this manner : " Lost 

 as the losing of the moa," without specifying what kind of 

 creature the moa was. I may add to the usual argument here 

 by saying that, if moa meant Dinornis, it would probably 



