Travers.—Notes on the Extinction of the Moa. 75 
my first journey was along the coast of Waimate. As we were resting on 
the shore near the Waingongoro Stream, I noticed the fragment of a bone 
which reminded me of the one I found at Waiapu. I took it up and asked 
my natives what it was? They replied, ‘A Moa’s bone; what else ; look 
around and you will see plenty of them.’ I jumped up, and, to my amaze- 
ment, I found the sandy plain covered with a number of little mounds, 
entirely composed of Moa bones; it appeared to me to be a regular 
necropolis of the race. 
“I found the natives of the West Coast were totally ignorant of the 
name given to the bird on the other side of the Island, the Tarepo.* It was 
here I first heard the word ‘Moa.’ I was struck with wonder at the 
sight, but lost no time in selecting some of the most perfect of the bones, 
and then considered what was to be done with them, and where to bestow 
them. I had a box in which my supplies for the journey were carried ; 
this I emptied and filled with the bones instead, to the amazement of my 
followers, who exclaimed ‘What is he dog? What can he possibly 
want with those old Moa bones?’ One suggested, hei rongoapea (to make 
into medicine perhaps;) to this the others consented, saying, koia pea (most 
likely. 
“ This visit to the Waingongoro was the opening up of one of the most 
interesting fields of research for the naturalist. My enquiries after the 
‘Moa,’ and carrying off some of its bones, caused much talk among the 
* In connection with this name, Mr. Taylor says (“ Trans. N. Z. Inst.,” Vol. IV., 
p. 97) :—* In the beginning of 1839 I took my first journey in New Zealand to Poverty 
Bay with the Rev. Mr. Williams (the present Bishop of Waiapu). When we reached 
Waiapu—a large pa near the East Cape—we took up our abode in a native house, and 
posing at first that it was human; but, when I saw its cancellated structure, I handed it 
over to my companion, who had been brought up to the medical profession, asking him 
if he did not think it was a bird’s bone. He laughed at the idea, and said, ‘ What kind 
of a bird could there be to have so large a bone?” I pointed out its structure, and when 
the natives came, requested him to ask them what it belonged to. They said it was a 
bone of the Tarepo; a very large bird which lived upon the top of Hitaurangi, the 
highest mountain on the East Const, and that they made their largest fish-hooks from its 
bones. I then enquired whether the bird was still to be met with, and was told that 
there was one of an immicnse size, which lived in # cave, and was guarded by a large 
lizard, and that the bird was always standing on one leg.” Mr. Taylor was in error in 
supposing that the term ‘ Tarepo’ was used by the Maoris to designate any species of 
the Dinornis. This was the name given by them to Cnemiornis Calcitrans—a bird well 
known to them, but now extinct. I would call special attention to that part of the 
passage from Mr. Taylor which mentions that the bird was always standing on one leg ; 
& habit which was no doubt possessed by Cnemiornis in common with all other birds of 
the same family.—W, T. L. Travens. 
