438 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



think such a step would be wrong and unnecessary yet awhile. 

 My opinion is that the wolf and fox tribes are the natural 

 enemies of the sheep. We are clear of sheep-fluke now in 

 Australasia, and I have no wish to introduce it. The bladder- 

 worm hydatid of the rabbit, and sheep hj^latid, are luckily 

 two distinct things. 



With respect to complete rabbit-extermination, I wish to- 

 say that it will be most inadvisable to attempt such a measure ; 

 and if it is attempted in Australia it will not succeed. 



I am tokl that I am making too much of these diseases, and 

 that specially favourable circumstances aided mo in suppressing 

 the pest in my own district. Those who say this do not see 

 the importance of the principle contended for. So great is 

 that principle that I have offered to reduce the rabbit-pest ta 

 a minimum in the South Island of this colony if I am allowed ■ 

 four years in which to do it. For that was the time il; took 

 me to reduce the pest in the South Wairarapa. 



Aet. LVIII. — The Ancient Moa-liunters at Wainfjontjoro. 



By Lieut. -Colonel McDonnell. 



Communicated by James Park, F.G.S. 



[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 17th October, 1SS8.] 



The date of the extinction of the moa has always been a 

 favourite theme for discussion among scientists in New Zealand, 

 some contending that it had long ceased to exist before the 

 advent of the INIaoris to these shores, others arguing that it 

 lived contemporaneously with this race down to very recent 

 times. 



The former hypothesis has for its champion and principal 

 exponent Mr. Colenso, of Napier, who states that his belief is 

 based on the fact that there is nothing in the proverbs or stories 

 of the Maoris to show that they knew anything of this gigantic 

 wingless bird. It seems, indeed, strange to me that an autho- 

 rity on Maori manners, language, and mythology of such 

 eminence as Colenso should never have gleaned anything about 

 the moa from the natives he met. This is so contrary to my 

 own experience that I cannot refrain froni narrating an inci- 

 dent that came under my observation during the native war 

 on the west coast. 



It was some time in 1866, during a visit Sir George Grey, 

 at that time Governor, paid to the West Coast, that I, with 

 Kawaua Paipai and other natives from Wanganui, accom- 



