224 EXTINCT MONSTERS 
as we shall see, his estimate was a most moderate one, for the 
extinct bird turned out to be considerably larger than the ostrich. 
Later on he received from a friend in New Zealand news of the 
discovery of more bones. In 1843 a collection of bones of large 
birds was sent to Dr. Buckland, Dean of Westminster, by the 
Rev. William Williams, a zealous and successful Church mis- 
sionary, long resident in New Zealand. 
The leg-bones sent to London greatly exceeded in bulk those of 
the largest horse. The leg-bone of a tall man is about 1 foot 
4 inches in length, and the thigh of O’Brien, the Irish giant, whose 
skeleton, eight feet high, is mounted in the Museum of the Royal 
College of Surgeons, is not quite two feet. But some of the leg- 
bones (tibize) of Moas measure as much as thirty-nine inches. 
In 1846 and 1847 Mr. Walter Mantell, eldest son of Dr. 
Mantell, who had resided several years in New Zealand, explored 
every known locality within his reach in the North Island. He 
also went into the interior of the country and lived among the 
natives for the purpose of collecting specimens, and of ascertaining 
whether any of these gigantic birds were still in existence; re- 
solving, if there appeared to be the least chance of success, to 
penetrate into the unfrequented regions, and obtain a live Moa. 
The information gathered from the natives offered no encourage- 
ment to follow up the pursuit, but tended to confirm the idea that 
this race of colossal bipeds was extinct. He succeeded, however, 
in obtaining a most interesting collection of the bones of Moa, 
belonging to birds of various species and genera, differing con- 
siderably in size. This collection was purchased by the trustees 
of the British Museum for £200. Another collection was made by 
Mr. Percy Earle from a submerged swamp, visible only at low water, 
situated on the south-eastern shore of the Middle Island. This 
collection also was purchased by the trustees for the sum of £130. 
