ANCIENT BIRDS 227 



six hundred years ago, and there is reason to believe that the 

 ancient Maoris, when they landed, feasted on Moa as long as 

 any remained. Their extermination probably only dates back 

 to about the period at which the islands were thrice visited by 

 Captain Cook, 1769-1778. The Moa is mixed up with their 

 songs and stories, and they even have a tradition of caravans 

 being attacked by them. Still, some people believe that they were 

 killed off by the race which inhabited New Zealand before the 

 Maoris came. But they must have been there up to a time not 

 far removed from the present. It is even said that the " runs " 

 made by them were visible on the sides of the hills up to a few 

 years ago ; and possibly they may still be visible. The charred 

 bones and egg-shells have been found mixed with charcoal where 

 the native ovens were formerly made, and their eggs are said to 

 have been found in Maori graves. Mr. Hutton considers that in 

 the North Island they were exterminated three or four centuries 

 ago, while in the South Island they may have lingered a century 

 longer. (See Plate XXXVIII.) 



The nearest ally of the Moa is the small Apteryx, or Kiwi, of 

 New Zealand, specimens of which may be seen at the Natural 

 History Museum, at the end of the long gallery devoted to living 

 birds. This bird, however, has a long pointed bill for probing in 

 the soft mud for worms, whereas the bill of the Moa was short 

 like that of an ostrich. 



Another difference between the two is that, while the Kiwi 

 still retains the rudiments of wing-bones, the Moa had hardly a 

 vestige of such. 



In Australia the remains have been found of a bird probably 

 related to the Cassowaries, but at present imperfectly known. 

 To this type of struthious, or running bird, the name Dromornis 

 has been given. 



