Observations on the Habits of the Moa. 289 



the habits of the Moas were somewhat similar to these birds, 

 and they may only have resorted to hills, forests, and se- 

 cluded places, after the advent of the human race. The 

 Kiwi or Apteryx is found in forests, hills, and secluded 

 spots, and this strange bird may have some of the habits of 

 the Moa. 



III. They lived chiefly on vegetable food. — This conclu- 

 sion is drawn from the adze-like shape of the beak, from 

 their bodies being described as very fat (no flesh-eating bird 

 is ever fat), from nature having endowed them with feet and 

 toes remarkably well adapted for uprooting fern root and 

 other subterrestrial substances, which abound in New Zea- 

 land, and from their swallowing stones to assist in diges- 

 tion. No flesh- eating animal ever does this. 



IV. They were in the habit of swallowing stones to assist 

 digestion. — This statement rests on tradition. The New 

 Zealanders point out certain stones which they say have 

 been in the stomach of a Moa. This habit is confined to 

 vegetable-feeding birds. 



V. They were dull and stupid birds. — This is inferred, 

 because the skull is low and flat, and is confirmed by the 

 traditions of the New Zealanders. 



VI. They were in the habit of standing and resting on 

 one leg. — My authority for this is not good, but I give it to 

 convey some impression of what is now said by the New 

 Zealanders about the habits of the Moas. A most intelligent 

 Maori, who belongs to one of the interior tribes, told me 

 that he knew where a Moa lived. I asked him where it 

 was, and what the animal did all day. He said, it stood in 

 a cave in which there was a waterfall, and that the bird 

 stood first on one leg, and then on the other. All this story 

 is fabulous, but the statement of its standing on one leg may 

 probably have some foundation in the habits of the bird. 



Deductions drawn from the Moas' bones as to the probable 



