17 
three of them, at Akitio, feeding with avidity on the ripe fruit of the kahikatea ( Podocarpus 
dacrydioides). 
The Maoris prepare the skin in a very primitive way : cutting off the wings and legs, they strip 
the body and then flatten the skin to dry between two sheets of totara bark, tied tightly round with 
native flax, taking special care to keep the tail-feathers unsoiled. The latter are much prized as 
head-plumes on festive occasions, and for the ornamentation of the dead. In former days very artistic 
boxes (papa-huia) were carved in relief as caskets for these precious feathers. 
This species builds its nest in hollow trees, forming it of dry grass, leaves, and the withered 
stems of herbaceous plants, carefully twined together in a circular form, and lined with softer 
materials of a similar kind*. An egg was brought to me on the 11th October, 1877, by 
Mikaera of Wainuiomata, who stated that it was found by him in utero when engaged in skinning a 
Huia. As already mentioned on page 4, the testimony of this man is not very reliable ; but there 
can be little doubt that this is in reality the egg of the Huia, for it agrees in general character 
with one subsequently received at the Colonial Museum and described by Mr. Kirkf. My specimen 
was perfectly fresh when brought to me, and the shell was of such extreme delicacy that it was 
fractured under the gentlest handling in blowing. It is ovoido-elliptical in form, measuring 1’8 inch 
in length by IT inch in breadth, of a very delicate stone-grey, inclining to greyish white, without any 
markings except at the larger end, where there are, chiefly on one side, some scattered rounded spots 
of dark purple-grey and brown ; towards the smaller end there are some obsolete specks, but over the 
greater portion of its surface the shell is quite plain. 
The specimen described by Mr. Kirk is somewhat smaller, being T45 inch in length by IT in its 
widest diameter, the shell “ having a beautifully fine and delicate structure, and pure white without 
any trace of markings whatever.” This egg was obtained by Mr. G. M. TIewson from the Maoris of 
Murimotu, who assured him that it was that of the Huia. 
Abnormal growth of a Huia’s bill (from a photograph). See footnote, p. 15. 
* See an interesting account by Mr. Potts (‘ Zoologist,’ 1884, p. 387) of a nest found in the cavity of an ancient hinau tree 
at Manawatu. On November 18th it contained one young bird. Another nest in the same neighbourhood contained three, 
t Journal of Science, 1882-83, vol. i. p. 263. 
D 
