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feeble j tbe outer toe is '5 of an inch, longer than the inner one ; the claw on the middle toe measures 
an inch in lengthy and is pectinate on its inner side ; the hind claw is small, rather broad, and abruptly 
arched ; the lateral claws are equal, and slightly larger than the hind one ; the interdigital web is deeply 
cut, and terminates at the third joint of the middle toe. 
So far as I am aware there is only one recorded instance of the occurrence of this “Vulture of the 
sea,” as it has been appropriately termed, on the New-Zealand coast. In February 1863 a fine 
specimen was taken alive at Castle Point, on the east coast of the Wellington Province, and forwarded 
to Mr. George Moore, who very generously presented it to me ; and this unique example, of which a 
description is given above, is now with the rest of my original collection in the Colonial Museum. 
I was unable at the time to get any information about it, beyond the mere fact of its having been 
brought in alive by a party of natives, who had been on a fishing excursion ; but, several years afterwards, 
when travelling through another portion of the province, I happened to meet with the native who 
had actually caught it. He said he was fishing near Eangiwhakaoma, when he observed a strange 
bird sitting on the rocks apparently asleep : creeping stealthily up, he succeeded in catching 
it with his hands. It made no attempt to escape; but, on being captured, attacked his hands 
fiercely with its powerful bill. He stated further that a similar bird had been killed by the natives 
at Ihuraua, on the same line of coast, a short time before, and that all who had seen it pronounced 
this the true “ Hokioi ” of Maori tradition — a long-winged bird that is supposed to soar in the 
heavens, far above the range of human vision, and to descend to the shore at night to feed on shell- 
fish. Sir George Grey is of opinion that the extinct New-Zealand Eagle {Harpagornis moorei) was 
the bird to which the tradition relates, and he may be right in this conjecture. On the other hand, 
it is not improbable that the wonderful powers of flight possessed by the Frigate bird gave rise to this 
well-known story of the “ Hokioi and the enormous expanse of its wings would seem almost to 
warrant the most extravagant belief. On this subject thus graphically writes Audubon, the American 
ornithologist : — 
“ The Frigate Pelican is possessed of a power of flight which I conceive superior to that of 
perhaps any other bird. However swiftly the Cayenne Tern, the smaller Gulls, or the Jager move 
on wing, it seems a matter of mere sport to it to overtake any of them. The Goshawk, the Peregrine, 
and the Gyr Falcon, which I conceive to be the swiftest of our Hawks, are obliged to pursue their 
victim, should it be a Green-winged Teal or Passenger Pigeon, at times for half a mile, at the highest 
pitch of their speed, before they can secure them. The bird of which I speak comes from on high 
with the velocity of a meteor, and on nearing the object of its pursuit, which its keen eye has spied 
while fishing at a distance, darts on either side to cut off all retreat, and with open bill forces it to 
drop or disgorge the fish which it has just caught. See him now ! Fonder, over the waves, leaps 
the brilliant dolphin, as he pursues the flyingfishes, which he expects to seize the moment they drop 
into the water. The Frigate bird, who has marked them, closes his wings, dives towards them, and, 
now ascending, holds one of the tiny things across his bill. Already fifty yards above the sea, he 
spies a porpoise in full chase, launches towards the spot, and in passing seizes the mullet that has 
escaped from its dreaded foe. I observed a Frigate Pelican that had forced a Cayenne Tern, yet in 
sight, to drop a fish, which the broad-winged warrior had seized as it fell. This fish was rather large 
for the Tern, and might probably be about 8 inches in length. The Frigate Pelican mounted with it 
across his bill about a hundred yards, and then tossing it up caught it as it fell, but not in the proper 
manner. He therefore dropped it, but before it had fallen many yards caught it again. Still it was 
not in a good position, the weight of the head, it seemed, having prevented the bird from seizing it 
by that part. A second time the fish was thrown upwards, and now, at last, was received in a conve- 
nient manner (that is, with its head downwards), and immediately swallowed.” 
