ANCIENT BIRDS 
227 
six hundred years ago, and there is reason to believe that the 
ancient Maoris, when they landed, feasted on Moa as long as 
any remained. Their extermination probably only dates back 
to about the period at which the islands were thrice visited by 
Captain Cook, 1769-1778. The Moa is mixed up with their 
songs and stories, and they even have a tradition of caravans 
being attacked by them. Still, some people believe that they were 
killed off by the race which inhabited New Zealand before the 
Maoris came. But they must have been there up to a time not 
far removed from the present. It is even said that the runs ” 
made by them were visible on the sides of the hills up to a few 
years ago ; and possibly they may still be visible. The charred 
bones and egg-shells have been found mixed with charcoal where 
the native ovens were formerly made, and their eggs are said to 
have been found in Maori graves. Mr. Hutton considers that in 
the North Island they were exterminated three or four centuries 
ago, while in the South Island they may have lingered a century 
longer. (See Plate XXXVIII.) 
The nearest ally of the Moa is the small Apteryx, or Kiwi, of 
New Zealand, specimens of which may be seen at the Natural 
History Museum, at the end of the long gallery devoted to living 
birds. This bird, however, has a long pointed bill for probing in 
the soft mud for worms, whereas the bill of the Moa was short 
like that of an ostrich. 
Another difference between the two is that, while the Kiwi 
still retains the rudiments of wing-bones, the Moa had hardly a 
vestige of such. 
In Australia the remains have been found of a bird probably 
related to the Cassowaries, but at present imperfectly known. 
To this type of struthious, or running bird, the name Dromornis 
has been given. 
