BIRD OF THE WILDERNESS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27047, 23 May 1953, Page 6

BIRD OF THE WILDERNESS

[By

WHIM WHAM

The Council of the Royal Society of New Zealand today rejected a proposal to send a pair of live notornis birds to the Zoological Society in London. The Director of the Dominion Museum (Dr. R. A. Falla) said he thought the suggestion was premature The real interest in the notornis was due to its survival in marginal country. Professor Richardson, of Wellington, said there was a good scientific reason for sending the notornis to England—far more detailed study was possible there. . . . News item. Sir, Some of my Notornis Friends are not A Little baffled and upset by What Appears to Them a scientific Plan To enslave their ancient but diminished Clan. Had. they but Wings to fly, they’d fly Abroad Where Fame awaits them, and their due Reward For sticking it so Long in such a Place: A good Deal longer than the Human Race: So long, so near Extinction’s awful Brink (I mean to say, it almost makes you think), Through all these Ages in these Islands here, It’s not surprising that they feel as queer As they’re peculiar-looking, and as near To Desperation as a Bird can be. I’m sure it would have that effect on Me.' —Regarding this millennial Insularity, Can’t we, in common Decency and Charity. Send them abroad, like Sid! They may be dumb, But That’s no Drawback, when you think of Some Things that are said—the Present Day should find A Future for the prehistoric Mind, Feathers and All; it ought to have no Rival On the strategic Problems of Survival. —Besides, rare Birds like These should have the Chance Of Overseas Experience, to advance Their Studies and to prove, for All our Sakes, That the Pig Islander has What it takes. < The Oracles are Overseas, the Press That hails Arrival and that seals Success, And ah. Notornis! Very soon we’ll see, Nothing EXISTS that isn’t on T.V. —Sir, Who are Ornithologists to say Whether our feathered Friends shall go or stay? What All of us would like to know is can’t The Government be touched for a small Grant? Perhaps it Is not generally known That the Notornis Species has its own Primitive Poetry and Art?—The State Literary Fund should pull its Weight, inese Birds» when broody, make a cultural Noise 1116 Boys iSh CouncU or 016 Fulbright Might well give Ear to ... Sir, I think I ye said Sufficient to convince you on this Head.