Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-10-26

of the beak is a band of soft tissue, like
rudimentary comb. such as appears more
CeVeICpeG in ordinary don tstic sowl. AltJ
I" thCr Ii Is most peculiar specimen.
The present Specimen is not Likely to be
boGSEt Tor less than iour CT i've hundred
pounds sterling and will probably go 20 the
British museum.
The first specimen of this bird for which
men have risked their lives in countless
vain hunt through the w.ids OF New ZeaI-
and was obtained by Walter Mantell in 1884
IN the south OF the middle island. Tnis
bird was taken by some sealers who were
pursuing their avocations in Dusky bay.
tefcelFlng the trail of 4 large and unknown
bird on the snow, with wuich The ground
was covered, they followed the footprints
tl!I they obtained sight of the Notornis.
winch their dogs instantly pursued and
alter long chase caught alive in a gully
OF a sound behind Resolution island. 1t
ran with great speed and upon being cap
tured uttered loud screams and fought
ana struggled violently. 1t was kept alive
three or four days on board the schooner
ana then killed and the badly roasted and
ate by the crew, each partaking of the
DAINTY, which was declared to be delicious.
Inc beak and legs We're OF a bright red
Mr.. Mantell was fortunate enough to
s,'5 secure e. another specimen of the Notornis.
were placed side by side in the national
collection of Great Britain. and have con-
tlnued 10 attract the attention of thousands
of daily visitors. While at Preservation ISL
ana he saw a party Of natives who gave
him circumstantial account OF the killing
OF small Moa, huge bird of the same
famiiy as the Notornis, both species of
which have long been thought extinct.
They described with much spirit its capture
out of drove of six or seven. The same
natives pointed out TO him valley wnere
the Notornis was said to be plentiful. This
was at the head OF Preservation inlet. Be-
sides being swampy.the ground was covered
with vegetation so close and thick that it
was impossible to penetrate it on foot and
under this cover the Notornis might roam
b61ut bof IN IN peri perfect ti tsieGuTity for the recuse
tiles be its best protection Being deprived
by the feeble construction of its wings
of the power Of flight. it is compelled to
means of evading its natural enemies. and
person may be in its vicinity for weeks
without catching glimpse of 1t. From the
thickness of its, plumage and the great
length of its back feathers it was inferred
that 1t affects low and humid situations.
marshes the banks of rivers and the COW
erts of dripping ferns so abundant in
its native country. 1t enjoys the power of
swimming, but from the structure of it's
in it's habits.
Sir James Hector. who explored the
southwest coast of Otago in 1868. discovered
the Maori who actually caught the first
recorded NotOrnis, and this man assured
the explorer that there were plenty of
them AT the head of Te Anau lake near a
small lake in the valley that leads to Bligh
sound" In confirmation of the above re-
port about the moa.Sr James Hector states
that IN lSt2, during WISH 10 the Matuka-
tuka river, he heard a singular booming
noise which was followed by shr!!l whs-
tie. The same cries were afterward heard
by another exploring party, and scientists
are now convinced that they came from
the same species of noa or notornis, Of
which there may yet be survivors by the
thousands in the 600 square miles of ''un-
explored Interior The third and last
specirnen found up to the latest capture
was sold to the Dresden museum for over
500 1t was obtained on what was called
the Bare Patch Plains. between the
Maruia and UpOkorOrO rivers, on the east
crn side of Te Anau lake, where years
before n native had told Explorer Hector
they could be found in plenty.
man was engaged in 'rabbiting on
| the run of Captain Hankinson,s property
had camped on the Maruroa fiat not far
| from the homestead. One day his dogs ran
| down a large bird. and on coming up he
| found 1t alive and unframed. Taking the
! bird from the dogs he deliberately killed it,
| took il TO his tent and hung IL up to his
ridgepole on the following day the sta
| tion manager !. Conner in making his
| customary round. visited the camp. The
| .'rabbiter" had Just struck his tent, and.
calling his managers attention TO the dead
! bird still suspended to the ridgepole, told
| him he might have il. Mr.. Connor, who
| at once shrewdiy suspected that 1t was a
| specirnen of the rare nOtornis. at once ac-
| ccDted the offer and took 1t home. 1t
| measured twenty-four inches from beak to
| tail and though small, was a fine speci-
! men A few weeks later he sold it for the
neat sum mentioned.