13世紀、マルコ・ポーロは次のように述べている(アッテンボロー(Attenborough)(1961: 32)より引用)。
<blockquote>ロック鳥は鷲のようなものだが、実に巨大で、羽の長さと太さが12ペース<ref>1pace≓75ccm</ref>もある。もある。この鳥はとても強く、象を爪で捕まえて空高く舞い上げ、落として粉々にして象を殺した後、舞降り、悠々と食べてしまう。</blockquote>
Polo
<blockquote>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