Marshall. — Fossil Moa-hones in Lower Wanganui Sfrafa. 251 



of this country. Since there is a great mass of Tertiar}- rucks in New 

 ZeaUiud. and they are often of a shallow-water origin, it was reasonable 

 to expect that at some time or other remains of the moa would be found 

 in them. It was therefore with some satisfaction tliat last summer a few- 

 bones were discovered embedded in the papa rock forming the cliffs near 

 the Nukumaru Beach. The greater number of the bones were in a 

 poorly preserved condition, but a portion of one femur (Plate XVIII) was 

 in a sufficiently good condition to be identified. It was sent to Professor 

 W. B. Benhani, of Otago University, who M^as good enough to compare it 

 with the large collection of moa-bones in the Otago Museum. My thanks 

 are due to him for the following report on the specimen : — 



" The curious trellis of bone lining the medullary cavity is quite similar 

 to what occurs in the long bones of the moas. From our extensive stock 

 of moa-bones I selected for comparison those of Dinornis robustus, and 

 find a very close resemblance to the femur of that species, both in size, 

 details of surface-marking, and thickness of outer wall as seen in trans- 

 verse section. One small feature that seems characteristic is the smaU 

 size of the vascular foramen on the posterior face, which is not only 

 relativelv smaller in proportion to the size of the femur in this species but 

 absolutely smaller than in other species. Taking this as a starting-point, 

 comparison of the ridges and prominences on this surface agrees quite 

 closely, though not absolutely, with those on D. robustus, where they 

 are more prominent and rather differently formed. This no doubt is 

 explicable by wear and liy variation in individuals, or possibly it is specific. 



Femur of Dinornis robustus, showing position of fragment found at Xukuniaru. 



" I send an outline tracing of the right femur of D. robustus with the 

 fragment shown in position. [See text-figure.] It will be seen, therefore, 

 that the fossil is a portion of the shaft just below the great trochanter. . . 



'■ Whether the species is D. robustus or an allied species it would be diffi- 

 cult to decide, but the bird must have been of the same size as that. . . ." 



The actual locality where the specimen was found is about three-quarters 

 of a mile south of the Nukumaru Beach. The stratum is composed of a 

 fine pebbly material with much unctuous blue clay. The pebbles are not 

 composed of local material, but seem to be derived from the rocks of 

 north-west Nelson. I have previously drawn attention to the probability 

 of the micaceovis sand of Wanganui having its origin in the granite rocks 

 of Nelson. The stratum is regularly interbedded with the other strata 

 of which the cliff is formed, and, like them, it dips south-west 5°. 

 A preliminary estimate shows that this stratum lies about 1,000 ft. below 

 the highest beds at Castlecliff. 



