576 BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



Family RALLID-3S. 

 Genus NOTORNIS, Owen. 



In all probability the only known species of this form is the 

 solitary remnant of a group of birds which was formerly nu- 

 merous in New Zealand and the neighbouring islands. 



Sp. 22. NOTORNIS MANTELLI, Owen. 



MOHO. 

 Notornis mantelli, Owen in Trans, of Zool. Soc, vol. iii. p. 377. 



Notornis mantelli, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., Supplement, pi. 



The acquisition of a new species is always a matter of great 

 interest ; but when, as in the present instance, it is of one so 

 nearly extinct as to be only known to us previously by its 

 fossil or semi-fossilized remains, the interest becomes enhanced 

 in the highest degree ; it is well known that the existence of 

 the celebrated Dodo is all but traditionary, a fate which, but 

 for Mr. Walter Mantell's fortunate acquisition of a living ex- 

 ample, would probably have been shared by the present bird, 

 the characters of which were first made known to us by 

 Professor Owen from the semi-fossilized remains previously 

 obtained and sent home by the same talented explorer after 

 whom it is named. 



That few living examples remain, is evident from the fact 

 that the mounted specimen in Dr. Mantell's possession is the 

 only one that has yet heen seen ; all the information respect- 

 ing it that has been obtained is comprised in the following in- 

 teresting account communicated by him to the Zoological 

 Society of London, and published in their ' Proceedings ' for 

 1850 :— 



" This bird was taken by some sealers who were pursuing 

 their avocations in Dusky Bay. Perceiving the trail of a large 

 and unknown bird on the snow with which the ground was 



