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lead, were other evidence wanting, to the belief that the bird was 

 not only of gigantic dimensions, but possessed of immense power 

 of stride. In connection with this bird, it is said that some years 

 ago a traveller returning from New Zealand, brought with him 

 a few inches of bone. This was before the days of the gold 

 discovery ; the traveller had heard of the gigantic birds of New 

 Zealand, and also of Professor Owen, to whom the piece of bone 

 was presented. It was big enough in diameter to have been the 

 bone of an ox, but upon examination Professor Owen noticed a 

 peculiar cancellated structure only found in the bones of birds. A 

 bird to possess such a bone must have been considerably larger than 

 an ostrich. He therefore set to work to construct an outline of 

 the bird. The figure, when produced, caused no small amount of 

 disbelief and, as some thought, shewed hasty conclusi(jns on Owen's 

 part. But, causing enquiries to be made in New Zealand, some 

 disjointed bones turned up ; these were packed up and sent in a 

 trunk to London; when put together they formed the incomplete 

 skeleton in the Museum of the College of Surgeons. From 14ft. to 

 16ft. appeared to be the height assigned to the dinornis giganteus, 

 the (tibia) legbone measured •2ft. lOin., and the legs to the root of 

 the tail 6ft. An egg found in the volcanic sand by Mr Walter 

 Mantel, was so large that he said his hat would serve as an egg- 

 cup for it. What became of this egg was not known. If, as was 

 asserted by some, the bird was still existing, we might in time 

 obtain a living specimen, or if the capture of it alive was impossible, 

 at least the skin and bones. 



THE NOTORNIS MANTELLI. 



Another Ijrevipennate bird of the same country, the Notomis 

 Mantelli, was captured alive in the year 1849 by some seal hunters. 

 They were ashore in one of the coves of Dusky Bay, the S.W. 

 extremity of Middle Island, when, observing the footprints of a 

 large and strange bird in the snow, they followed the trail and at 

 length came in sight of the bird itself. After a long chase, in which 

 their dogs were very much distressed, they came up with and caught 

 it alive, in a gully behind Resolution Island. They kept it alive on 

 board their schooner for some days, and then killed and skinned it, 

 roasting and eating the flesh, which they pronounced delicious. 

 The skin was procured by Mr W. Mantell, and sent to England. 

 This bird stood about two feet high, the beak was short and strong, 



