GEOLOGY. 279 



bones exhibited to the Association belonged. A tibia of an ostrich, 

 compared* with a corresponding- bone of this bird, seemed quite di- 

 minutive. The Dinornis stroutlioides was of about the same height 

 as the ostrich, but of stouter proportions. The fourth species, the 

 Dinornis dromioides, was of smaller dimensions. Its height may 

 have been between five and six feet, which is the average height of 

 the emu in captivity. The Dinornis didiformis, to which another 

 of the tibial bones exhibited belonged, was a little larger than the ex- 

 tinct dodo, to which it bore some resemblance. Its height was about 

 four feet. The Dinornis otidiformis was not larger than the great 

 bustard (Otis tarda) from which the species is named. 



From the circumstances under which the bones of the Dinornis are 

 found, as well as from their remarkable preservation, the bird is be- 

 lieved to have been living within the historical period. 



A collection of the bones of these enormous birds, amounting in all 

 to 800 specimens, has been received from New Zealand, by Dr. 

 Mantel 1, of England. The collection includes three distinct types, 

 the particular members of which were of all dimensions, from those 

 of a water-hen to a colossal bird ten or twelve feet high. The state 

 of preservation of the bones is remarkable ; they are light and porous, 

 and of a delicate fawn-color, resembling the bones from the caverns 

 of Germany. A recent letter from Mr. Walter Mantell, in New Zea- 

 land, gives the particulars concerning their locality and occurrence. 

 They were found near the embouchure of the Waingongora, which 

 rises in the volcanic ridge of Mount Egmont. The river seems 

 recently to have changed its course, probably in consequence of 

 the elevation of the land, and is now cutting through a loffy cliff of 

 loose conglomerate, overlying a finely laminated sand. The latter 

 rests on a blue clay, containing recent marine shells. In a loose sand 

 drift, at the base of an ancient cliff, Mr. Mantell had an opening made, 

 and soon came to the bed containing bones. These were at first so 

 soft, that, if strongly grasped, they fell into clay. Many bones were 

 found, some of them apparently lying in their natural position ; but 

 the natives of the neighbouring villages gathered around him, and be- 

 gan digging themselves, and not only interrupted his researches, but 

 trampled on and destroyed the bones he had laid out in the sun to 

 dry. Along with the bones were portions of egg-shells, one frag- 

 ment measuring four inches long. 



From the examination of these bones, it appears that the beak of 

 the Dinornis was like a cooper's adze, and was probably designed to 

 tear up the roots of plants; the base of the skull is prolonged below 

 the foramen magnum, in a very extraordinary manner, for the attach- 

 ment of powerful muscles, by which the mandibles were acted upon. 



Professor Chase intimated that these gigantic birds had probably 

 become extinct through the agency of man, and, in answer to an ob- 

 jection raised by Professor Agassiz, that we have no geological evi- 

 dence of the existence of man with extinct species of animals, Mr. 

 Mantell replied, that such evidence had recently been discovered. 

 Bones of this character had been found, by his brother, in the bed of 



