MOA SEY 
was promptly (14th Feb. 1843) substituted for it and has ever since 
held ground (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1843, pp. 1, 2, 8-10, 19). In due 
time these specimens with others, subsequently received from the 
same quarter (tom. cit. pp. 144-146), and referred to five, or rather 
six, distinct species of the genus? were fully described and figured 
(Trans. Zool. Soc. iii. pp. 235-275, pls. 18-30), forming the first 
of that incomparable series of memoirs continued over nearly forty 
years which will always be associated with the author’s name,? but 
cannot be here further particularized, though mention must be made 
of the assistance rendered by Mr. Perey Earl and by Mr. Walter 
Mantell. 
The Moas inhabited both the North and South Islands of New 
Zealand, where they were represented by a considerable number of 
species, of which the smallest was scarcely larger than a Turkey, 
while the largest had a tibia of more than a yard in length. We 
are inclined to estimate the number of species at about 20; Capt. 
Hutton (V. Zeal. Journ. i. pp. 247-249; Trans. N. Zeal. Inst. 
xxiv. pp. 93-172) admits, indeed, 26 species, but some of 
these we should prefer regarding merely as varieties or sexes. 
Certain species were peculiar to the North, and others to the South 
Island, while some were common to both. A femur described 
under the name of D. queenslandix* appears to belong to a Moa, and 
if its reputed place of origin be correct, shews that the Family 
extended to Australia ;—a fact in distribution which, if true, is of 
extreme Importance. 
When New Zealand was first systematically explored by 
Europeans, Moa-bones were found lying on the surface of the ground 
in many districts in great profusion, being especially abundant near 
the old cooking-places of the natives, and often shewing traces of 
the action of fire. They also occur in the most superficial and recent 
deposits, such as blown sands, as well as in caves and swamps. 
Many of the latter, such as that of Glenmark, near Canterbury, 
when drained have been found to be full of Moa-bones, frequently 
in all conceivable positions. In one particular district of the South 
Island, where climatic conditions appear to be peculiarly favourable, 
skeletons have been found with the bones connected by dried 
muscles, ligaments, and integument with the cuticle and feathers. 
Fragments of egg-shells, as well as pebbles swallowed by the birds 
and contained in their stomachs at their death, together with impres- 
sions of footprints, have likewise been discovered. The discovery of 
1 Namely D. giganteus, ingens, struthioides, dromeoides, didiformis and otidi- 
formis. The original specific name nove-zealandiz was tacitly dropped. 
2 This series was issued in 1879 in a separate form under the title of The 
Extinct Birds of New Zealand. 
3 De Vis, Proc. R. Soc. Queensl. i. p. 27, pls. iii. iv. (1884). Etheridge, Ree, 
Geol. Surv. N.S. W. i. p. 128 (1889). 
37 
