In the 13th century, [[Marco Polo]] (as quoted in [[David Attenborough|Attenborough]] (1961: 32)) stated <blockquote>It was for all the world like an eagle, but one indeed of enormous size; so big in fact that its quills were twelve paces long and thick in proportion. And it is so strong that it will seize an elephant in its talons and carry him high into the air and drop him so that he is smashed to pieces; having so killed him, the bird swoops down on him and eats him at leisure.</blockquote>
Polo claimed that the roc flew to [[Madagascar]] "from the southern regions", and that the [[Great Khan]] sent messengers to the island who returned with a feather (likely a ''[[Raffia palm|Raphia]]'' frond).<ref name="ley196608">{{Cite magazine