Scientists have confirmed the legend of the giant bird-eating

The researchers acknowledged that the giant bird-eater, which is found in the legends of the Maori people, existed in reality. The work of researchers published in The Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Briefly set out in The Independent.Sredi indigenous Polynesian islands are popular stories about a bird of prey Hokioi Te, or Te-Pouakai. The plumage of a huge bird with a red crest on his head was black and white, and the ends of the wings were painted in yellow and green colors. According to legend, Te-Hokioi killed and eaten by large animals and humans. Despite this, the Maori wiped out all the Te-Hokioi to top XV veka.V 1870 explorer Julius von Haast (Julius von Haast) found in a swamp on an island in the bones of the unknown of a huge bird. After examining the structure of the skull, the researchers concluded that the bird, named Harpagornis moorei fed on carrion. Nostrils H. moorei, also known as the Haast eagle, were closed with flaps. This anatomical feature is characteristic, for example, for vultures. With the flap, they can "dig" in the carcasses of animals without the risk zadohnutsya.Avtory new work examined the skeleton Harpagornis moorei more closely. They concluded that the basin birds allowed it to cause heavy blows with its beak from the air at speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour. Since the mass of Te Hokioi could reach 18 kilograms and a wingspan - three meters, the scientists do not rule out that the bird could easily kill the children. To maintain the child's body Haast eagle helped long claws the size not less than tiger. Nevertheless, the researchers note that the main prey of Te Hokioi likely to have been similar to ostriches moa birds slaughtered at the end of the beginning of the XV-XVI vekov.Sovsem recently another group of scientists found indirect signs of the existence of moa in New Zealand plant psevdopanaks tolstolistny. Because of its color, the young seedlings seemed unsafe for eating.