7468 Binis. 



of a bitter shrub — • tlie Kowbai — wliich imparts a bitter taste to the 

 flesh. 



RASORES. 



Fam. Tetraonid^. 



Quail (Moho Itoreke), Colurnix Novte-Zealandiae, Biiffoii. Very 

 scarce now in the North Island. Abundant in the middle. * 



Fam. Struthionid^, 



A few centuries ago there were several species in this division ; most 

 of these are now extinct. Of the gigantic Struthionid* bones of many- 

 species occur all over the Islands. Feathers have also been found, 

 and frai^nienls of egg shells; also one perfect egg, taken out of the 

 grave of a native, in 1856. It is believed by many natives that none 

 of the species are entirely extinct. They give tolerably minute descrip- 

 tions of many species, but it is impossible from their descriptions to 

 define the number formerly existing. Professor Owen has detected 

 fourteen distinct species from the various bones which have from time to 

 time been sent to England. Wherever the bones of the larger species 

 are found there exists about a quart of pebbles, used doubtless to assist 

 digestion. I can only give the native names and descriptions of a few 

 extinct species. All these birds were hunted by the natives for food. 



Moa. The largest species stood sixteen feet high. Colour red- 

 brown. Fed on leaves of forest trees ; their legs were too long to allow 

 them to eat off the ground. Bones full of marrow. 



Kiwi Papa Whenua. Seven feet high. One of the last birds to 

 disappear. There are still living men who have hunted it. 



Tokoeka. Three feet high. Bright red. Inhabited only the snowy 

 mountains in the neighbourhood of Otago. 



Po-waka-i. Ten feet high. Lived on carrion as well as plants. 

 Peculiar to the middle Island. 



Kiivi Mokemoke. Three feet high. A solitary ash-coloured bird, 

 with a long curved bill. These are all the traditions of the preceding 

 five birds to be relied on. It is highly probable that this species and 

 other smaller ones yet exist among the wild unexplored mountain 

 ranges of the middle Island. 



Great Apteryx (Kiwi Parure), Apteryx major. Inhabits forests and 

 mountains. A night bird. By imitating its call it is attracted and 

 then caught with dogs. It is also caught by lighting a large fire, which 

 is sure to attract them. Native report says that this and the next 

 described species do not sit on their eggs, but cover them up with 



