CoLENSO. — Notes on the ancient Dog of the New Zealanders. 135 



Aet. X. — Notes, chiefly historical, on the ancient Dog of the New 

 Zealanders. By W. Colenso, F.L.S. 

 [Read before the Haivke Bay Philosophical Institute, 8th October, 1877.] 

 Foe several years I have been aware of much error beuag commonly 

 entertained concerning the original New Zealand dog, and I have been 

 desirous of combatting it, as far as I could, by putting together what little 

 I have learned respecting it, and the valuable testimonies yet extant of 

 those of our earliest voyagers in these seas who frequently saw the animal. 

 And this, I cannot hel^J thinking, is the more needed just now ; for, in the 

 last volume of the " Transactions," there is a paper by Dr. Hector " On the 

 remains of a dog found near White Chffs, Taranaki," in which there are some 

 statements and remarks concerning the New Zealand dog, which, I think, 

 will be found incorrect — e.g., where Dr. Hector says : — " A few dogs of this 

 primitive breed were known within the last twenty years," that "it is 

 improbable that the same dogs were both highly-prized domestic pets and 

 also used for food;" and "a bitch and full-grown pup were known for 

 several years in the densely-wooded country between Waikawa and the 

 Mataura plains, and did great damage among the flocks of sheep, etc., they 

 were (at last) shot and presented to the Colonial Museum. Of the smaller 

 specimen both skin and skeleton were taken to the British Museum by Sir 

 G. Grey, and the skin of the mother was preserved here, and has been 

 recognised by many old Maoris as a genuine kuri or ancient Maori dog. 

 * * '^ It is a large-bodied dog with slender limbs, large ears, etc."* 



From an early period (in oui* modern times) I travelled pretty much in 

 this North Island of New Zealand (particularly from 1834 to 1854), and 

 that always on foot, zig-zagging about and visiting the Maori pas and 

 villages in the interior and on the coast from Cook Straits to Cape Maria 

 Van Diemen, and often crossing the island from sea to sea. I mention this, 

 because I failed to see a single specimen of the true Maori dog, although I 

 made every exertion to obtain one, offering, too, a high price. But they 

 had become wholly extinct, or very nearly so, at least fifty years ago. 



Notwithstanding, I have seen and possessed its hair ; for, about the year 

 1835, I obtained an ancient, large, and handsome chief's staff and weapon of 

 defence,! which was richly ornamented with carving, red feathers from 

 under the wings of the parrot (Nestor meridionaUs,) and the flowing hair of 

 the old Maori dog. This hau' was long, fine, and white, beautifully and 

 securely done up in httle queues having their ends firmly bound round with 

 the finest spun flax where secured to the weapon, neatly covered with the 



* " Trans. N.Z. Inst.," IX., 243, 244. 

 f Hani, Taiaha or Maipi, of the natives. 



