148 ANIMALS OF THE PAST 



haps it is not to be wondered at that the bird 

 lays but two. 



Although most of the eggs of these big 

 birds that have been found have literally been 

 unearthed from the muck of swamps, now and 

 then one comes to light in a more interesting 

 manner as, for example, when a perfect egg of 

 -^pyornis was found afloat after a hurricane, 

 bobbing serenely up and down with the waVes 

 near St. Augustine's Bay, or when an egg of 

 the JMoa was exhumed from an ancient Maori 

 grave, where for years it had lain unharmed, 

 safely clasped between the skeleton fingers of 

 the occupant. So far very few of these huge 

 eggs have made their way to this country, and 

 the only egg of ^pyornis now on this side of 

 the water is the property of a private individual. 



Most recent in point of discovery, but oldest 

 in point of time, are the giant birds from Pata- 

 gonia, which are burdened with the name of 

 Phororhacidse, a name that originated in an 

 error, although the error may well be excused. 

 The fii'st fragment of one of these great birds 

 to come to light was a portion of the lower 

 jaw, and this was so massive, so un-bird-like. 



