Hamilton. — On Avian Remains in Southland. 91 



The character of the deposit was such that our examina- 

 tion of it was necessarily slow and minute, the bones being 

 found in such a confined space : it is therefore somewhat 

 surprising that not a single fragment of eggshell of any kind 

 whatever was found by us. In the Earnscleugh cave, I believe, 

 numerous fragments were found both of duck and moa egg- 

 shell. 



The bones themselves were exceptionally well preserved, 

 only two small patches being found where the bones were 

 perished through damp. 



The scattered condition of the bones of the smaller birds 

 may, I think, be accounted for by the probability that wekas 

 (and kiwis) lived for some time after their being entrapped — 

 as long as there were dead birds, or weak individuals which 

 might be killed, on which they could live. 



To account for the made and female of the giant eagle 

 (Harpagomis) being present is almost as difficult as to account 

 for their presence in all the large finds of moa-bones. They 

 may have had their nest on the top of the rock, and it is quite 

 possible that they may have been tempted in by the carcase of 

 a dead moa. and then have found that in the narrow space be- 

 tween the rocks they were unable to spread their wings for 

 flight, and thus perished miserably. 



In all open fissures or chasms of this kind w r e may expect 

 to find intrusive deposits : I was therefore not surprised to 

 find the bones of a sheep at and near the surface ; also, at a 

 lower depth, close to the rock, the skull and remains of a pole- 

 cat ferret ; — no doubt accidental victims during the " sheep 

 period." No trace of man's handiwork was found, either in 

 the form of stone tools or of intentionally-broken bones. Some 

 of the bones near the top of the leafy deposit at C had 

 been slightly burnt — in all probability from sparks from the 

 frequent grass-burnings in the neighbourhood, or from the 

 matches of visitors at an earlier date than our exploration. 



From inquiries I find that this place has been known for 

 many years to settlers in the neighbourhood, rabbiters, and 

 others, and that numbers of the most noticeable bones have' 

 been collected at various times, but not preserved. It is diffi- 

 cult to express one's feelings on this matter, and I deeply 

 regret that the specimens have all perished, as from what we 

 found remaining it is probable that almost priceless treasures 

 have been destroyed heedlessly. Mr. Savage, who was my 

 guide on the first occasion, collected a number of bones some 

 years ago, and transmitted them to a museum in Scotland. 

 To his intelligent interest in the matter I owe much valuable 

 information. I have undertaken to examine and report upon 

 the very large number of bones which the chasm yielded to our 

 digging, and I now propose to give a short account of the most 



