GRALLATORES. 



335 



the feathered creation examined by Professor Owen are not fossil, 

 and it is supposed that the last of the race has not been dead 

 many years, the genus, like the dodo, having been exterminated 

 by the natives at a very recent period. Numerous fragments of 

 their egg-shells have been found in the detritus brought down 

 by rivers ; and the aborigines not only say that their fathers and 

 grandfathers have often seen and killed them, but assert that 

 some are still existing in the mountains ; it is even reported that 

 an Englishman one day saw one, but was so frightened that he 

 threw down his gun and ran away. There seems, however, little 

 doubt that they have all perished. In 1846 and 1847 Mr. Walter 

 Mantell explored every known locality of these fossil bones within 

 his reach, and in the interior of the country, associated with the 

 natives, for the purpose of collecting specimens and of ascertain- 

 ing whether any of these gigantic creatures were still in exist- 

 ence. The information gathered, however, offered no encourage- 

 ment to follow up the pursuit, but tended to confirm the idea that 

 this race of colossal birds has been blotted out from the catalogue 

 of living animals. Mr. W. Mantell succeeded, however, in col- 

 lecting between seven and eight hundred of their bones, belonging 

 to individuals of various species and genera, and diftering con- 

 siderably in magnitude and age. The chief part of this collection 

 is now deposited in the British Museum. 



ORDER VI. 



GRALLATORES.* 



The word GraIIatores,t v;hich literally means Stilt-zualkers, 

 is synonymous with the French term '' Lcs Echassicrsl' which 

 Cuvier has given to the present Order, and which is generally 

 applicable to the birds included in it. They have by many natu- 

 ralists been termed Waders, a title which is strictly correct so 

 far as regards the greater number of the species, but not all. The 

 birds of this Order, says Cuvier, are characterized by want of 

 feathers at the lower part of the thighs, and by the great length of 



* Grallae, stilts: so called from their stilt-like legs. 

 t See "Animal Creation," page 342. 



