656 Proceedings. 



some large forms of birds have also been discovered. They are, however, 

 very different from our New Zealand forms, as may be seen from the 

 following comparison : — 



Australian. New Zealand (Dinoknis). 



Skull, length .. .. 12in. l-4in. to 3'8in. 



Femur, „ .. .. 12in. 60in. to 18-5in. 



Tibia, „ .. .. 24in. lOlin. to 39'Oin. 



Tarsal, „ .. .. 14in. 4'8in. to 21-5in. 



Wings . . . . . . Complete None. 



Mr. Travels supported Wallace's views in reference to the condition 

 of Australia in Pliocene times. There was, no doubt, a land-connection 

 between New Caledonia and New Zealand, which would account for the 

 large birds found here. There is evidence of such a land-connection 

 between eastern Australia and New Zealand where the sea is shallow. 

 The occurrence of the moa-bones found on the surface no doubt goes to 

 prove that themoa did exist within a comparatively recent period. 



Mr. Phillips said that bones such as those mentioned would, if in 

 the open, last a long time ; but in the bush or in a stream they would soon 

 decay. He thought the moa had been seen during Maori times. He had 

 called Sir James Hector's attention to the Diprotodon. He thought the 

 dry climate would account for this preservation. Why should the moa 

 die out, and the emu and other large birds remain ? He agreed with 

 Mr. Travers regarding the former land-connection. 



Mr. Hudson called attention to Mr. Darwin's observations regarding 

 the time it required for bones or other objects on the surface to become 

 buried by earthworms : possibly his observations would make it possible 

 to arrive at a more exact date for the disappearance of moa-bones. 



Mr. Tanner thought that the moa did exist in Maori times. Lots of 

 well-preserved bones had been found on the banks of the Oreti River, in 

 the old Maori cooking-ovens — even the delicate neck-bones, which could 

 not last very long on the ground. 



Mr. McLeod thought it would be a good thing to have the earth in 

 or on which the bones were found analysed, to ascertain if it contained 

 anything that would prove that bones had been buried there. 



Mr. McKay said the Maoris might have seen the moa thirty 

 years ago, especially judging from the bones on the table. The bones 

 might have been buried, and exposed afterwards. They had been found 

 at Benmore, in the south, on the bare rock, and they could not have 

 remained there long without decay. 



Mr. Tregear said that, as he was the only representative present of the 

 " traditionalists " in the moa controversy, he would say a few words. 

 When geologists made a distinct statement that such and such moa- 

 bones were found on the surface, there could be no debate ; positive 

 statements by experts had to be received without question. But what 

 those who thought with him refused to accept was a large quantity of 

 so-called evidence that the Maoris had ever known the Dinornis as a 

 living bird. On the contrary, there was strong evidence for thinking 

 that, whoever the natives were that had assisted in destroying the Dinor- 

 nis, the Polynesian Maoris had not. The very word "moa" (whatever it 

 meant) was alluded to as " lost" in a song of ancient days — one of the 

 oldest songs collected in the South Island by the Rev. Mr. Stack. Why 

 allusions should be made by Maoris to the moa having perished centuries 

 ago, if it was still alive during the last thirty years, is one of the things 

 which are hard to explain. 



Sir James Hector, in reply, said it was well to keep this subject 

 alive. Both sides had yet to ascertain how the matter really stands, and 

 it would be well for observers to note the exact position of bones found 

 in various localities, and the kind of soil in which they occur, for bones 

 become quite different under different circumstances of deposit. The 



