64 Transactions. — Miscellaneous, 



3. Because I diligently sought after it, and wrote very early about it, 

 before New Zealand became a colony, in 1838-1842 ; and yet, though that 

 early paper had been tivice published, both in Tasmania and in England, I 

 do not think there is a single copy in the Colony save my own. Indeed, I 

 have failed to procure one at any price in London. 



4. Because that early-written paper on the Moa has been frequently 

 referred to and quoted in many scientific works published in Europe and 

 America, as well as by Dr. Von Haast in the volumes of the " Transactions 

 of the NeAV Zealand Institute " m our Library. 



5. Because I have been subsequently repeatedly written to, appealed to, 

 and importuned, both from Europe and within the Colony, respecting what 

 I had published, and also asked to add to what I first made known about it. 



6- Because I have, during the past feAv years, been again seeking from 

 every possible som-ce to gather up anj^thing that was left concerning the 

 Mna. 



Those are among the chief reasons which incline me now to bring this 

 subject before you. I think you will agree with me as to their- validity. 



I propose, therefore, to divide my paper into two parts — 1. What I 

 originally wrote on the Moa (which being wholly unknown to you will be 

 new) ; and 2. To bring before you all additional information which I have 

 subsequently gleaned respecting it. 



Part I. — What I originally wrote on the Moa. 



*' An Account of some enormous Fossil Bones of an ^mkjiown Species of the 

 Class Aves, lately discovered in New Zealand."''' 



During the summer of 1838, I accompanied the Eev. W. Williams on a 

 visit to the tribes inhabiting the East Cape district. Whilst at Waiapu (a 

 thickly inhabited locality about twenty miles S.W. from the East Cape), I 

 heard from the natives of a certain monstrous animal ; while some said it 

 was a bird, and others " a person," all agreed that it was called a Moa ; 

 thai in general appearance it somewhat resembled an immense domestic 

 cock, with the difference, however, of its having a " face like a man ;" that 

 it dwelt in a cavern in the precipitous side of a mountain ; that it hved on 

 ah' ; and that it was attended or guarded by two immense Tuataras,\ who, 

 Argus-like, kept incessant watch while the Moa slept ; also, that if any one 

 ventured to approach the dwelling of this wonderful creature, he would be 

 invariably trampled on and killed by it. 



* My first paper was written early in 1842, and published with two plates of bones of 

 the Moa in the " Tasmanian Journal of Natural Science," Vol. 11., part 7 : this was sub- 

 sequently repubhshed in England, by Professor Owen, in the " Annals and Magazine of 

 Natural History," Vol. XIV., p. 81, with the above title. 



t See Note A, Appendix I. 



