“I have watched them fly from one sapling to another and then climb up and down and listen to hear the weta inside...When a weta was brought out by the female, the pair flew away with it. They showed very little interest in their choice of trees. It did not matter to them what kind of tree they tackled so long as it contained a weta.. I have a photo of a huia with a beak like a corkscrew. It must have been fed by its mates. The bird was shot by a Maori in bush between Tahoraiti and Oringi, and was given, minus its tail, to the late Mr John Burton of Kumeroa who in turn passed it to the late William Colenso. 

I have with others examined the beaks of male huias many times, but they did not appear to be extra strong. I have often thought since that we would have been better employed examinging our own heads to find out what reason we had for destroying those beautiful birds, but alas, they are gone. Engaro ai i te Moa”