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beasts. The Muah River, where both varieties abound, would be the 
best spot to seek them; and Inchi Basow, a Malay chief who takes 
great delight in hunting, would soon procure live specimens of each 
at a small expense. 
3. The Water Buffalo does not seem to be known in England, 
although it is common all over the Archipelago. The larger speci- 
mens stand 7 feet at the shoulder, sometimes more. Barrel very 
large. Legs short and strong. Skin black and wrinkled, and almost 
hairless, like that of the Elephant. It is amphibious, and has been 
known to swim across straits as wide as the Channel at Dover; in 
fact, the way the head is set on the body, with the nose up, and the 
horns lying along the back, shows that it is more adapted for the 
water than the land, although it is an excellent draught animal, and 
at Singapore supplies the place of the Elephant. 
4. The Domestic Ox of Bali and Lombok, a large, sleek, thin- 
skinned species, as graceful as the Antelope. This would be very 
much admired in the Gardens. Specimens can be obtained at Sin- 
gapore, but it would be better to get them from Lombok, whence 
ships now come direct to England with cargoes of rice. Mr. Lange 
of Bali Badong (merchant) would, I have no doubt, forward speci- 
mens at a trifling cost. 
5. Extracts rrom A Letrer spy Mr. H. Cuurton, rEsPEcT- 
ING CoLLectTions In New Zeatanp. CoMMUNICATED BY 
Mr. J. STEVENS. 
Wanganui, July 24, 1851. 
You can form no idea of the great trouble and expense attending 
a journey such as you recommend in search of the Notornis. In the 
first place, the nature of the country is such, that it is almost im- 
possible to penetrate in search of anything; they can only be ob- 
tained by the merest chance, or from the natives. In most of the 
places where birds are to be obtained you cannot proceed without 
cutting your way, and the fern and shrubs are so thick and high, 
that if a bird rises close to you you cannot see it. This is the case 
with the Pakeko. I have been frequently in places abounding with 
them and not got a shot, though they were flying all about me; the 
Notornis being of similar habit will be equally difficult to obtain. 
In the next place, I should have to charter a small vessel for two 
months at least, to take tents, provisions, &c. for myself and men, to 
be away from home for perhaps three months, and all for the very 
slight chance of meeting with a very rare bird: perhaps ten years 
ago, when I did not mind moving, I might have gone, but now I am 
snug and comfortable here there is no chance of it; so for me the 
Notornis must remain. 
There are no positively authentic accounts of living Moas. I have 
paid some attention to the subject, and have heard nothing yet that 
can be relied on. I think it possible that one species (not the largest) 
may yet be discovered in the Middle Island, but it will probably be 
some time first, as even the discovery of that bird will hardly pay a 
