496 Proceedings. 



conversed with him respecting the different kinds of birds there. The Maori 

 knew the Moa, and said he could get some of the bones, and that he knew a 

 man who had seen one. He also knew the tarepo, which was a kind of large 

 goose that went about with the Moas. They were now extinct, but had been 

 seen by living Maoris. We should bear in mind that if Mr. Mantell had not 

 procured two skins of the Notornis, they would have known of its existence 

 only from bones found in Maori ovens, as in the case of the Moa. On the 

 whole he thought there was no reason for jumping to the conclusion that the 

 Moa had become extinct at a very remote period. The positive evidence of 

 the existence of the Moa in New Zealand was probably greater than that of 

 the existence of the emu in some parts of V ictoria. Many persons were not 

 conversant with the rapidity with which animals disappear. In proof of this 

 he would refer to the bison. A hundred and fifty years ago these animals 

 roamed over the Eastern States in countless herds ; yet it would now be very 

 difficult to obtain positive proof of their existence in those States. "We should, 

 therefore, be careful in accepting assumptions on this subject, as they might 

 mislead us in regard to the physical changes in post-tertiary times in New 

 Zealand, and especially as there is no country so favourably circumstanced as 

 this for settling interesting questions about the origin and variation of species 

 and other important points. 



3. "Notes on Maori Traditions of the Moa," by J. W. Hamilton; 

 communicated by Dr. Hector. (Transactions, p. 121.) 



Dr. Hector observed that Mr. Hamilton had been one of the survey officers 

 on board H.M.S. u Acheron," when that vessel was surveying the New 

 Zealand coast, and his statements might be relied on, as he had ample 

 opportunities. 



Mr. Hood thought it quite possible that the tarepo still existed, and 

 the evidences of the recent existence of the Moa in the South Island were so 

 numerous that it seemed impossible for persons unprejudiced in favour of a pet 

 theory to doubt it. The negative evidence of the alleged absence of traditions, 

 insisted upon by Dr. Haast and others, even were it proved to be the case, 

 instead of the reverse, would have but little weight when one considered, as 

 Dr. Hector had just shown, how rapidly animals, large and numerous as the 

 bison, pass away almost unnoticed. He questioned if one in a thousand amongst 

 the peasantry of Switzerland could give any distinct description of the beaver 

 -remarkable in its habits, and the evidences of whose labours are so per- 

 manent—and yet we know the last beaver was killed there in 1812. 



p. 453.) 



Wanganui Tertiaries," by C. W. Purnell. (Transact™ 



Hector 



in 



