Wellington Philosophical Society. 435 
TWELFTH MEETING. 23rd October, 1872. 
Dr. Hector, F.R.S., President, in the chair, 
New members.—Rev. R. Taylor, F.G.S., John Clarkson, Charles Napier 
Bell. 
Mr. Charles C. Graham was chosen to vote in the election of the Board of 
Governors for the ensuing year in accordance with clause seven of the New 
Zealand Institute Act. 
1. “ Notes on some of the Birds brought by Mr. Henry Travers from the 
Chatham Islands, with Descriptions of the New Species,” by Capt. F. W. 
Hutton, C.M.Z.S8. (See Transactions, p. 222.) 
2. “Description of the Extinct Gigantic Bird of Prey Hokioi,” by a 
Maori; communicated by Sir G. Grey, K.C.B., Hon. Mem. N.Z. Inst. 
(TRANSLATION. ) 
This bird, the Hokioi, was seen by our ancestors. We (of the present day) 
have not seen it—that bird has disappeared now-a-days. The statement of our 
ancestor was that it was a powerful bird, a very powerful bird. It was a very 
large hawk. Its resting place was on the top of the mountains ; it did not 
rest on the plains. On the days in which it was on the wing our ancestors 
saw it; it was not seen every day as its abiding place was on the mountains. 
Its colour was red and black and white. It was a bird of (black) feathers, tinged 
with yellow and green ; it had a bunch of red feathers on the top of its head. 
It was a large bird, as large as the Moa. Its rival was the hawk. The hawk 
said that it could reach the heavens; the hokioi said it could reach the 
heavens ; there was a contention between them. The hokioi said to the hawk, 
-“ what shall be your sign?’ The hawk replied, “kei” (the peculiar ery of the 
hawk). Then the hawk asked, “what is to be your sign?” The hokioi 
replied, “ hokioi-hokioi-hu-u.” These were their words, They then flew and 
approached the heavens. The winds and the clouds came. The hawk called 
out “kei” and descended, it could go no further on account of the winds and 
the clouds, but the hokioi disappeared into the heavens. : 
“Kei” is the cry of the hawk. `“ Hokioi-hokioi” is the ery of the hokioi. 
“Hu-u” is the noise caused by the wings of the hokioi. It was recognized 
by the noise of its wings when it descends to the earth. 
3. “On the Origin in New Zealand of Polygonum aviculare, L.,” by W. 
T. L. Travers, F.L.S. (See Transactions, p. 310.) 
In the discussion that followed Mr. Travers stated that he did not believe 
that Capt. Cook succeeded in introducing the potato and grasses, but that the 
seeds he scattered were anti-scorbutic plants. 
