Hamilton. — On the Feathers of a Small Moa. 237 



long and about 5mm. wide from end to end. The remainder 

 are of various shades of brown with a lighter tip. Those best 

 preserved show the double-shafted character very plainly, but 

 there is no doubt that some of those which have no trace of a 

 secondary shaft are true moa-feathers. This is, no doubt, 

 owing to the different character and function of the feathers 

 on the different parts of the body. Thus, in the emu the 

 feathers from the back are harsh and wiry, and without the 

 double shaft, but in the young state, and from the under- 

 surface of the body, they are double-shafted and soft and 

 silky. 



It took me all day to fully examine this small cave and two 

 similar ones near it ; from all three I obtained the same type 

 of feathers. In each of these caves were abundant traces of 

 owls. I collected six or seven hundred feathers, besides those 

 still remaining on the leg. As soon as it was possible my guide 

 and myself crossed the stream in front of the hut, and climbed 

 the range to a considerable elevation, with the intention of 

 visiting a place called Gorge Creek, but we found the water 

 in the creek too high to cross. The whole country at this 

 elevation has been burnt, and, instead of large tussocks of 

 snow-grass and fern, is covered with sorrel and the scarlet 

 pimpernel (Anagallis). A number of caves were examined, and 

 in two we found moa-feathers, but not in any quantity. A 

 curious bright canary-coloured feather of considerable size was 

 found, which I can only refer to a yellow variety of Stringops. 



MOA-HUNTERS' CAMP. 



The day was hot, and I was not sorry to commence the 

 descent from the range. The country above the Gorge Creek 

 has a considerable extent of fairly level, swampy hill-tops, 

 covered with the huge white stranded rocks (called white 

 comb). In passing across a small plateau of perhaps 

 three or four acres, surrounded by swamps, I noticed 

 on the bare surface of the ground thousands of flakes 

 of various -coloured quartzites. A little further on were 

 groups of Maori ovens, and quantities of small fragments 

 of moa-bones. I picked up a number of the flakes, one 

 or two pieces of rough implements, and one fragment of a 

 polished tool. If it had not been for the burning of the huge 

 grass tussocks this ancient Maori camp would have been quite 

 hidden. A space of fully two acres was thickly strewn with 

 chips and flakes of stones, which do not occur anywhere 

 near. I w r as informed that there are two similar camps 

 within sight of this one, but I could not spare the time to 

 visit them. 



There is absolute evidence in this case of the use of the 

 moa as food. The quantity of bones lying by the ovens in 



