THE MO A :5T -HOME. 645 



actions of the New Zealand Institute, three years ago, he sums up his final con- 

 clusions thus: 



1. "That the bird Moa (some of those of its genera and species) was really 

 known to the ancient Maori. 



2. "That such happened very long ago, in almost prehistorical 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, etc.'-' 



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, etc., and of the 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 in- 

 quirers (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 Euro- 

 peans, 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 of the New Zealand Geolog- 

 ical Survey, among the number. Mr. Walter Mantell (son of the eminent geolo- 

 gist) was the first explorer of the artificial Moa beds, soon after the settlement of 

 the colony, and advanced the idea that Moas existed to very recent times. And 

 Mr. Mantell seems very certain that Maoris in the south at the date of his early 

 explorations, in 1846, were well acquainted with the former existence of the Moas 

 and the circumstances which led to their extinction. He also thinks that canni- 

 balism prevailed, but in the North Island only, at the time the Moa was used for 

 food. 



Several bones of the Moa, with the dried ligaments still attached, have been 



