280 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



<< 



1. That the bird Moa (some of those of its genera and 

 species) was really known to the ancient Maori. 



" 2. That this happened very long ago, in almost pre- 

 historical times ; long before the beginning of their genealogical 

 descents of tribes, which, as we know, extended back for more 

 than twenty-five generations. 



" 3. That this conclusion is the only logical deduction from 

 all that I have been able to gather, whether myth, legend, proverb, 

 song, or the etymological rendering of proper names of places, 

 persons, &c." 



In regard to the numerous accounts published of Maori 

 descriptions of the Moa, he says: — "From January, 1838 (when 

 I first heard of the Moa), down to 1842, and later, no man could 

 possibly do more than I did in my quest after it, and no man 



could have had better opportunities." " And I again 



assert that it was through me that the Maoris generally got to 

 know of the Moa having been a real (or common) bird. I showed 

 them repeatedly, at the station, the plates in ' Rees' Cyclopaedia,' 

 containing all the struthious birds, and told them of their habits, 

 &C, and of my opinion of the extinct Moa; that information was 

 carried almost everywhere (with no doubt many additions), and 

 that information, together with simple leading questions on 

 the part of the inquirers (especially when put by the governor 

 of the colony, or any superior, — which, according to Maori 

 etiquette, would not be negatived even if wrong), and also 

 with but a small knowledge of the Maori tongue on the part 

 of the Europeans, fully explains all to me, and that very 

 satisfactorily." 



Mr. Colenso remarks that the condition of things forty years 

 ago, or before the colony was established, was very different from 

 what it is now, and says his inquiries " were carried everywhere 

 throughout the length and breadth of the North Island ; they 

 were the constant theme of conversation among the Maoris, who 

 then had little of a novel nature to talk over, — increased from 

 the fact of rewards being offered for bones, feathers (if any), and 

 for information." 



It requires but little knowledge of the workings of the savage 

 mind to see the force of these arguments. 



Notwithstanding, many competent observers believe that the 

 Moa became extinct in very recent times, Dr. Hector, Director 



