64 NEW ZEALAND HIKHS, 



sometimes be heard on every side, it is extremely diffiult to obtain a 

 glimpse of the bird. Its body weighs only two onnces ; and its 

 attenuated toes are well adapted for trav(;rsing the oozy marsh in 

 search of its food, which consists of. small freshwater mollusks, 

 insects, seeds of aquatic plants, and the tender blades of various 

 grasses. It seldom takes wing, and tlien only for a very short 

 distance ; but it runs with rapidity, swims very gracefully, and often 

 dives to escape its enemies." — Buller. 



NoTOENis. Owen. 



Bill, strong, shorter tlian tlie head, unicli deeper tlian broad, arched, dilated oti tlie 

 forehead ; wings very short, rounded ; quills, soft, from tlie third to the seventh equal and 

 longest ; tail, soft ; tarsi, longer than the middle toe ; hind toe, short. 



New Zealand and Norfolk Island. 



95. Notornis mantelli. Owci. 



MoHO OH Takahe. 

 (Plate XXVIII.) 

 Dark purplish-blue, shaded with olire-green on the back and wings ; under tail-coverts, 

 white ; bill and legs, red. 



L., 25 ; W.. 8-5 ; B., 212 ; T., 3-5. 

 Hab. — South Island. 



" Upon a cursory view of this bird it might be mistaken for a 

 gigantic kind of Porp/njrio ; 1)ut on an examination of its structure 

 it will be found to be generically distinct. It is allied to Porphyria 

 in the form of its bill and in its general colouring, and to Dribonyx 

 in the structure of its feet, while in the feebleness of its wings and 

 the structure of its tail it differs from both." — Gould. 



" This bird was taken by some sealers who were pursuing their 

 avocations in Dusky Bay. Perceiving the trail of a large and 

 unknown bird on the snow with wdiich the ground was covered, they 

 followed the footprints till they obtained a sight of the Notornis^ 

 which their dogs instantly pursued, and after a long chase caught 

 alive in the gully of a sound behind Uesolution Island, It ran with 

 great speed, and upon being captured uttered loud screams, and 

 fought and struggled violently ; it w^as kept alive three or four days 

 on board the schooner and then killed, and the body roasted and ate 

 by the crew, each partaking of the dainty, which was declared to 

 be delicious. The beak and legs were of a bright-red colour." — 

 Mantell. 



" Mr. Mantell was fortunate enough to secure a second specimen 

 of the Notornis ; and these examples, the only two known, having 

 been carefully mounted by Mr. Bartlett, now stand side by side in 

 the National Collection of Great Britain, and, like the remains of the 

 Dodo in the adjoining case, daily attract the attention of thousands o£ 

 eager visitors. 



