GIANT ROAD-MAKERS 113 



measured three feet in their larger circumference 

 and two and a half feet in girth. 



The natives of Madagascar believe that some of 

 these elephant-birds are still living in the interior 

 of the island. However, it is almost a certainty 

 that none have existed there for more than two 

 hundred years. No one knows how they were ex- 

 terminated, but it is most probable that it was by 

 the hand of man. 



The elephant-birds were road-makers, and usu- 

 ally lived inland, but made roads or runs to the 

 coast country during the breeding season. The 

 noted explorer, Mr. J. T. Last, says: "During 

 all my explorations, though I have found the bird's 

 bones a long way inland, I have never seen any 

 fragments of eggs either with them or inland any- 

 where. Everywhere along the south and south- 

 west coast fragments are to be found in abundance, 

 especially on the hillsides about St. Augustin's 

 Bay. Bushels of broken egg-shell could be gath- 

 ered in this district with but little trouble. From 

 this I judge that the birds used to live generally in 

 the more inland parts of south-central Madagas- 

 car and at certain seasons came to the coast to lay 

 their eggs, after which they betook themselves 

 again to their inland homes." 



Perhaps the nearest allies of the moas are the 



