Hill. — On an Occurrence of Moa-footprints. 477 



that the material was not fully hardened when it was 

 traversed by several bix'ds moving in the same general direc- 

 tion. It would seem that the impressions were subsequently 

 filled by blown pumiceous sand, and it was in consequence of 

 the washing-away of the overlying material and the movement 

 of water over the surface containing the impressions that 

 the softer sands were removed. The footprints are some- 

 what numerous, but only about eight of them were clear 

 and distinct at the time of my visit. At my request, Mr. 

 Gilberd measured the larger impressions, and it will be 

 noticed that they are much larger than any of those found 

 in the Poverty Bay deposits. From the end of the middle 

 claw, which was very clearly shown, to the heel the length of 

 the largest impressions were 15in., and within half an inch it 

 was the same distance between the two outer claws. Another 

 footprint measured 8fin. from the end of the middle claw, 

 whilst the distance between the two outer claws was lOin. 

 In this impression the two outer toes were much deeper 

 than the middle one, and it may be that the latter was not 

 fully extended, owing to the material being somewhat harder. 

 There were a number of smaller tracks about the same length 

 as those found at Poverty Bay, but they were not so wide, 

 and the claws were seen in most cases. Judging from the 

 larger impressions only, the length of step was 26in. The 

 peculiar character of the deposit made it hopeless to attempt 

 to get out any of the impressions, and I had to content my- 

 self with making a rough sketch of several of the footprints 

 (Plate XLVIL). I do not know whether the floods in the 

 Manawatu since the date of my visit have washed away the 

 deposit containing the footprints, but I expect this has been 

 the case. 



The age of the beds in which the footprints are found, both 

 at Poverty Bay and in the Manawatu Biver, is later Pleisto- 

 cene, corresponding to the later plain-deposits of the Here- 

 taunga and Poverty Bay plains. 



